Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MORGIANA DANCES, by WILLIAM ROSE BENET


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MORGIANA DANCES, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Aha! A guest!
Last Line: A dead guest, ho!
Subject(s): Dancing & Dancers


Aha! A guest!
Within my master's house, a guest --
To eat
With his meat
No salt?
Say you so!
His vest -- his vest --
What glitters through his merchant's vest?
Fast and fleet! Tabor, beat!
Round again we go!

Scarves about my head -- so!
Silver girdle, flash -- ho!
Round again -- again we go.
Round again -- again we go.
Chalk upon the panel there;
Oil upon the pave -- beware!
A guest, ho! A guest, ho!
A sweet guest, ho!

Laden mules, laden mules
Came within our court there.
Who boil
In their oil?
The thieves?
Say you so!
Fair fools -- fair fools!
The moon saw the sport there!
Spin, spin! Tabor, din!
Round again we go!

Thieves' beards be red -- so!
Poniard, forth and flash -- ho!
Round again -- again we go.
Round again -- again we go.
Master Ali, drunk with wine.
Houssain, only I divine!
A guest, ho! A guest, ho!
A sly guest, ho!

For treasure, for pleasure
Stabbed and plotted many men.
The fox
Picked the locks.
The springe
Seized him -- so!
Full measure -- full measure!
Purses for my dancing, then?
Purple are the shadows;
The lamps red and low.

Poniard at my breast -- so!
Poniard at thy breast -- ho!
Round again -- again we go.
Round again -- again we go.
Here's a dagger's smart should be
Salt for such villainy!
A guest, ho! A guest, ho!
A dead guest, ho!





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