Short Poems

All may share thy thoughts: thine own is only thy feeling.
Wouldest thou own him, feel , do not imagine , thy God.

Her cheek is so pink,
And it don't seem to vary:
Must we say what we think? —
Her cheek is so pink:
From reflections we shrink,
And of comments are chary; —
Her cheek is so pink,
And it don't seem to vary!

Who are those by the door? —
Our host and our hostess? —
Never saw them before:
Who are those by the door?
He looks such an old bore, —
She's as white as a " ghostess; "
Who are those by the door? —
Our host !! and our hostess !!!

She's not asked to the Ball,
O, Despair! Desolation!
And it's marked " Very small, "
She's not asked to the Ball:
She has rushed off to call,
But still no invitation!
She's not asked to the Ball,
O, Despair! Desolation!

Not a thousand a year!
What a shock to Belgravia!
She has married , my dear, —
Not a thousand a year!
Did the world ever hear
Of such selfish behaviour?
Not a thousand a year!
What a shock to Belgravia!

Ah! they sit out the dance
In a leaf-hidden corner:
Now is Corydon's chance, —
Ah! they sit out the dance:
See her timorous glance!
He's as pleased as Jack Horner!
Ah! they sit out the dance
In a leaf-hidden corner!

Belânu to Iltani who is all his as he is all hers, by the decree of Marduk and Ishtar which changes not:

Iltani, the almost destroyed one, to Sikku in whom is her hope: Woe has overtaken me, Sikku. Black woe has cast me down like a cup of alabaster. I am broken in pieces. My joy is spilt upon the hungry earth. Like a greedy dog the earth has lapped up my joy. I am dry and empty like a broken reed from which the pith has been drawn. My hand shakes for lack of sleep, for fulness of anguish. All this night that is past the night spirits tortured me. Lilu and Lilitu his handmaiden tore my breast, dug into my heart with sharp talons, rent my heart to ribbons.

Iltani to Sikku, my dear friend; It is the day of his coming. But it is only the eleventh hour. There is this hour to wait. I am already adorned for the occasion. My mother has left me to see that the cakes of sesame and cinnamon, and the clarified honey, and the frothed cream, and the wine and conserves of citron are set forth in fit order. Damka also has gone to assist her. I feel that I must speak to some one. I will speak to you, O Sikku, my kind friend. I would wish you to put your arms about me. I would wish you to put your necklace of blue and green stones about my neck.

Iltani to Sikku my friend: A terrible thing. A terrible thing. Baal Belânu has gone mad. The Demon Ti'u has entered into him with madness. He has sent me another poem calling me Queen and fish of fire. What may a man not do who thinks of such a thing as a fish of fire? What may he not do to her he calls fire-fish? My knees are loosed with fear. Great is my fear, O Sikku. By the life of the gods write to me with comfortable words, Sikku. In the name of the goddess Irnini send me a message of advice quickly. Damka my nurse has brought your letter.