Myself when young did eagerly frequent

Doctor and Saint, and heard great argument

About it and about: but evermore

Came out by the door where in I went.

A like for those who for To-DAY prepare,

And those that after a To-MORROW stare,

A Muezzin from the Tower of Darkness cries

"Fools! Your Reward is neither Here nor There!"

***

'Tis all a Checker- board of Nights and Days

Where Destiny with Men for Pieces plays:

Hither and thither moves, and mates, and slays,

And one by one back in the Closet lays.

***

Whether at Naishapur or Babylon

Whether the Cup with sweet or bitter run,

The Wine of Life keeps oozing drop by drop,

The Leaves of Life keep falling one by one.

***

Whereat some one of the loquacious Lot-

I think a Sufi pippin - waxing hot -

"All this of Pot and Potter- Tell me, then,