Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE INFANCY OF MOHAMMED, by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE INFANCY OF MOHAMMED, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: An arab nurse, that held in arms a sleeping arab child
Last Line: Thus in the prophet's life did god his work of grace begin.
Alternate Author Name(s): Houghton, 1st Baron; Houghton, Lord
Subject(s): Muhammad, The Prophet (570-632); Mahomet; Mohammed


AN Arab nurse, that held in arms a sleeping Arab child,
Had wandered from the parents' tents some way into the wild.

She knew that all was friendly round, she had no cause to fear,
Although the rocks strange figures made and night was threatening near.

Yet something kin to dread she felt, when sudden met her sight
Two forms of noble maintenance and beautifully bright.

Their robes were dipt in sunset hues -- their faces shone on high,
As Sirius or Canopus shine in purest summer sky.

Straight up to her without a word they walked, yet in their gaze
Was greeting, that with subtle charm might temper her amaze.

One, with a mother's gentleness, then took the slumbering child
That breathed as in a happy dream, and delicately smiled:

Passed a gold knife across his breast, that opened without pain,
Took out its little beating Heart -- all pure but one black stain.

Amid the ruddy founts of life in foul stagnation lay
That thick black stain like cancerous ill that eats the flesh away.

The other Form then placed the heart on his white open hand,
And poured on it a magic flood, no evil could withstand:

And by degrees the deep disease beneath the wondrous cure
Vanished, and that one mortal Heart became entirely pure.

With earnest care they laid it back within the infant's breast,
Closed up the gaping wound, and gave the blessing of the blest:

Imprinting each a burning kiss upon its even brow,
And placed it in the nurse's arms, and passed she knew not how.

Thus was Mohammed's fresh-born Heart made clean from Adam's sin,
Thus in the Prophet's life did God his work of grace begin.





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