THREE yellow slaves were set to swing The doorway curtain to and fro, With rustle of light folds and ring Of little bells that hung below; The still, hot night was tempered so. And ever, from the carven bed, She watched the labour of the men; And saw the band of moonlight spread, Leap up upon her feet and then Leap down upon the floor again; And ever, vexed with heat and doubt, Below the burthen of their shawls, The still grey olives saw without And glimmer of white garden walls, Between the alternate curtain falls. What ailed the dainty lady then, The dainty lady, fair and sweet? Unseen of these three silent men, A something lay upon her feet, Not comely for such eyes to meet. She saw a golden salver there And, laid upon it, on the bed, The white teeth showing keen and bare Between the sundered lips, a head Sallow and horrible and dead. She saw upon the sallow cheek Rust-coloured blood-stains; and the eye Her frightened glances seemed to seek Half-lifting its blue lid on high, Watching her, horrible and sly. Thus spake she: "@3Once again that head! "I ate too much pilau to-night, "My mother and the eunuchs said@1. "Well, I can take a hint aright -- "To-morrow's supper shall be light." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG NYMPH GOING TO BED by JONATHAN SWIFT BALLAD OF THE WOMEN OF PARIS by FRANCOIS VILLON TO A CERTAIN CIVILIAN by WALT WHITMAN THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by MARIA ABDY SATIRE: 4 by AULUS PERSIUS FLACCUS |