Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, UNDER WHICH KING (VERSES READ AT OMAR KHAYYAM CLUB, 1903), by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON


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UNDER WHICH KING (VERSES READ AT OMAR KHAYYAM CLUB, 1903), by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Under which king?' you ask, my friend
Last Line: The opiate of the interval!
Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin
Subject(s): Omar Khayyam (1048-1122)


'Under which king, Bezonian? Speak, or die.'
-- 2 HENRY IV. Act v., Scene 3.

'Under which king?' you ask, my friend.
'The Hermit of the Suffolk shore? --
The Tent-maker of Naishapur? --
OMAR, FITZGERALD -- which?' Perpend.

The great CORNEILLE, when pressed of yore,
To judge two sonnets, answered thus: --
'One, in its way, is marvellous;
And yet -- I like the other more.'

This is my case betwixt your twain.
But if you further question why
I sit in this brave company,
I will -- with your good leave -- explain.

Life is a toilsome thing at best:
We all too-heavy burdens bear,
And groaning 'neath our load of care,
Run to and fro in search of rest.

We find it where this board is set:
Kind looks across the napery gleam;
The Past, the Future, grow a dream;
And -- for the moment -- we forget.

OMAR, FITZGERALD -- these are all
But phantasies. We snuff the air;
The green spot in the desert bare;
The Opiate of the Interval!





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