Classic Poem

" Thy mouth and thy lip " , I asked her, " Me blest when will they make? "
" Thy bidding in all, " she answered, " Shift to fulfil they make. "

" Thy lips for a kiss the tribute Of Egypt seek, " said I.
Quoth she, " At that rate who purchase, No bargain ill they make. "

" To the point of thy mouth who findeth The way? " quoth I; and she,
" That known to the subtlety-kenners, Not those lack-skill, They make. "

Quoth I, " Be no server of idols; Abide thou with God " , and she,
" Their wont this and that in Love's quarter, The good and the ill, they make. "

Quoth I, " Lo, the air of the winehouse Doth grief from the heart away; "
And she, " Happy folk, if one bosom With gladness to thrill they make! "

Quoth I, " Wine and patchcoat the canon Allows not " ; and she, " In the sect
" Of the Magians, of one and the other Their habitude still they make. "

Quoth I, " From the sweet-lipped ones' ruby What profit the old? " And she,
" The old young again with the sugar Their kisses distil they make. "

Quoth I, " To the nuptial chamber When cometh the lord? " And she,
" 'Twill not be, the Moon in conjunction With Jupiter till They make. "

Quoth I, " It is Hafiz's practice To pray for thy weal. " And she,
" This prayer, mid the angels that people Heav'n's sevenfold hill, they make. "