| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
| |
| 1310. Quatrains |
| | | By James Benjamin Kenyon |
| |
| |
THE BEDOUINS OF THE SKIES
YON clouds that roam the deserts of the air, | |
| On wind-swift barbs, o’er many an azure plain, | |
| Scarce pause to lift to Allah one small prayer, | |
| Ere Ishmael’s spirit drives them forth again. | |
| |
THE TWO SPIRITS
I DREAMED two spirits came—one dusk as night: | 5 |
| “Mortals miscall me Life,” he sadly saith; | |
| The other, with a smile like morning light, | |
| Flashed his strong wings and spake, | |
| “Men name me Death.” | |
| |
A CHALLENGE
ARISE, O soul, and gird thee up anew, | 10 |
| Though the black camel Death kneel at thy gate; | |
| No beggar thou that thou for alms shouldst sue; | |
| Be the proud captain still of thine own fate! | |
| |
|
|
|
