Classic Poem

" I dream once more I rule o'er Persia's land,
And in my garden scoff at God's command.
Bahadur Jang before me still I see,
Who cries " O King! May I thy ransom be!"
Liakhoff too, my Russian colonel true,
Marshals his Cossacks still before my view.
While old Mushiru's-Saltana , the cow!
Drains, as of yore, the people's life-blood now,
And Sa'du'd-Dawla , egotist unique,
Still to my ears of Russian aid doth speak
The Shaykh of Nur and Mirza Hasan both
Sanction the breaking of my solemn oath
The Imam-Jum'a and his pious peers
Urge me to break my word and have no fears
Kur Ámuli and Akbar Shah withal
Me still " God's shadow on the Earth" do call
Mujallal , with the wine-cup in his hand,
With locks dishevelled doth before me stand;
While smooth-cheeked pages with love-wanton eyes
Bemuse my wits and make my heart their prize;
And " Aynu'd-Dawla , Samad and Rahim
Still loot the town of Tabriz in my dream.
Still from the Russian Bank my wars to wage
I beg for cash and offer pledge and gauge. "