Classic and Contemporary Poetry
CHESKIAN ANTHOLOGY, by THOMAS HOOD Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Upon the turkish boundary Last Line: "and truth was in the maiden's prayer." Subject(s): Courtship; Deception; Turkey | ||||||||
UPON the Turkish boundary A watchman hath one child alone: "Oh God! oh God! what bliss'twould be, If I could call that girl mine own!" I sent a letter to the maid, And sent a ring -- "The ring is thine, So give me, sweet, thy love," I said, "And leave thy father's house for mine." The letter reach'd the maid -- she ran And placed it in her father's hand: "Read, oh, my father! if thou can, And make thy daughter understand." Her father read it, -- not a word He said, but sigh'd -- and as he rose -- Oh Lord of Mercy! righteous Lord! What heavy, heavy sighs were those? "My golden father! tell me why Such sighs, such sadness -- never pain Heaved from the breast a heavier sigh -- What did that wretched sheet contain?" "Sweet daughter! I have cause to groan, When misery on my heart is piled: A Turk demands thee for his own -- He asks thy father for his child." "My golden father! give me not -- Oh, if thou love me, do not so! I will not leave thy watchman's cot, -- Nay! with the Turk I dare not go! "I'll tell thee what I'll do -- I'll make A coffin, where I will be laid, And there my seeming rest I'll take, And thou shalt say -- the maid is dead!" And so she did -- the Moslem o'er The threshold sprung: "Ill-fated maid! Oh God of Mercy and of Power! The maid is dead, -- the maid is dead!" The mourning Turk his kerchief drew, And wiped his wet and weeping eyes: "And hast thou left me -- left me too, My precious pearl! -- my gem-like prize?" He bought himself a mourning dress, A dress of rosy taffety; "Why hast thou left me in distress, Of flowers the sweetest flower to me?" He bid the death-bells loudly toll From every Turkish mosque; and ye Might hear the heavy grave-song roll From Turkey even to Moldawy. The Turk sped homeward; and the maid Her coffin left for purer air. "Now, God be with thee, Turk!" she said; And truth was in the maiden's prayer." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LAMENT FOR A TURKISH SUICIDE AGE 22 by HETTIE JONES THANKSGIVING SONG by CAREY YATES BUSBY THE BRIDE OF ABYDOS by GEORGE GORDON BYRON THE GIAOUR; A FRAGMENT OF A TURKISH TALE by GEORGE GORDON BYRON THE TURKISH LADY by THOMAS CAMPBELL THANKSGIVING by OLIVER MURRAY EDWARDS SAADABAD by JAMES ELROY FLECKER THE HAMMAM NAME (FROM A POEM BY A TURKISH LADY) by JAMES ELROY FLECKER SHE DOES NOT HEAR by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN KING |
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