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You wereTO…MORROW you shall not be less。
XLIII。
So when that Angel of the darker Drink
At last shall find you by the river…brink；
And； offering his Cup； invite your Soul
Forth to your Lips to quaffyou shall not shrink。
XLIV。
Why； if the Soul can fling the Dust aside；
And naked on the Air of Heaven ride；
Were't not a Shamewere't not a Shame for him
In this clay carcass crippled to abide？
XLV。
'Tis but a Tent where takes his one day's rest
A Sultan to the realm of Death addrest；
The Sultan rises； and the dark Ferrash
Strikes； and prepares it for another Guest。
XLVI。
And fear not lest Existence closing your
Account； and mine； should know the like no more；
The Eternal Saki from that Bowl has pour'd
Millions of Bubbles like us； and will pour。
XLVII。
When You and I behind the Veil are past；
Oh； but the long； long while the World shall last；
Which of our Coming and Departure heeds
As the Sea's self should heed a pebble…cast。
XLVIII。
A Moment's Halta momentary taste
Of BEING from the Well amid the Waste
And Lo！the phantom Caravan has reach'd
The NOTHING it set out fromOh； make haste！
XLIX。
Would you that spangle of Existence spend
About THE SECRETquick about it； Friend！
A Hair perhaps divides the False from True
And upon what； prithee； may life depend？
L。
A Hair perhaps divides the False and True；
Yes； and a single Alif were the clue
Could you but find itto the Treasure…house；
And peradventure to THE MASTER too；
LI。
Whose secret Presence through Creation's veins
Running Quicksilver…like eludes your pains；
Taking all shapes from Mah to Mahi and
They change and perish allbut He remains；
LII。
A moment guessedthen back behind the Fold
Immerst of Darkness round the Drama roll'd
Which； for the Pastime of Eternity；
He doth Himself contrive； enact； behold。
LIII。
But if in vain； down on the stubborn floor
Of Earth； and up to Heav'n's unopening Door；
You gaze TO…DAY； while You are Youhow then
TO…MORROW； when You shall be You no more？
LIV。
Waste not your Hour； nor in the vain pursuit
Of This and That endeavor and dispute；
Better be jocund with the fruitful Grape
Than sadden after none； or bitter； Fruit。
LV。
You know； my Friends； with what a brave Carouse
I made a Second Marriage in my house；
Divorced old barren Reason from my Bed；
And took the Daughter of the Vine to Spouse。
LVI。
For 〃Is〃 and 〃Is…not〃 though with Rule and Line
And 〃UP…AND…DOWN〃 by Logic I define；
Of all that one should care to fathom； I
was never deep in anything butWine。
LVII。
Ah； by my Computations； People say；
Reduce the Year to better reckoning？Nay；
'Twas only striking from the Calendar
Unborn To…morrow and dead Yesterday。
LVIII。
And lately； by the Tavern Door agape；
Came shining through the Dusk an Angel Shape
Bearing a Vessel on his Shoulder； and
He bid me taste of it； and 'twasthe Grape！
LIX。
The Grape that can with Logic absolute
The Two…and…Seventy jarring Sects confute：
The sovereign Alchemist that in a trice
Life's leaden metal into Gold transmute；
LX。
The mighty Mahmud； Allah…breathing Lord；
That all the misbelieving and black Horde
Of Fears and Sorrows that infest the Soul
Scatters before him with his whirlwind Sword。
LXI。
Why； be this Juice the growth of God； who dare
Blaspheme the twisted tendril as a Snare？
A Blessing； we should use it； should we not？
And if a Cursewhy； then； Who set it there？
LXII。
I must abjure the Balm of Life； I must；
Scared by some After…reckoning ta'en on trust；
Or lured with Hope of some Diviner Drink；
To fill the Cupwhen crumbled into Dust！
LXIII。
Of threats of Hell and Hopes of Paradise！
One thing at least is certainThis Life flies；
One thing is certain and the rest is Lies；
The Flower that once has blown for ever dies。
LXIV。
Strange； is it not？ that of the myriads who
Before us pass'd the door of Darkness through；
Not one returns to tell us of the Road；
Which to discover we must travel too。
LXV。
The Revelations of Devout and Learn'd
Who rose before us； and as Prophets burn'd；
Are all but Stories； which； awoke from Sleep
They told their comrades； and to Sleep return'd。
LXVI。
I sent my Soul through the Invisible；
Some letter of that After…life to spell：
And by and by my Soul return'd to me；
And answer'd 〃I Myself am Heav'n and Hell：〃
LXVII。
Heav'n but the Vision of fulfill'd Desire；
And Hell the Shadow from a Soul on fire；
Cast on the Darkness into which Ourselves；
So late emerged from； shall so soon expire。
LXVIII。
We are no other than a moving row
Of Magic Shadow…shapes that come and go
Round with the Sun…illumined Lantern held
In Midnight by the Master of the Show；
LXIX。
But helpless Pieces of the Game He plays
Upon this Chequer…board of Nights and Days；
Hither and thither moves； and checks； and slays；
And one by one back in the Closet lays。
LXX。
The Ball no question makes of Ayes and Noes；
But Here or There as strikes the Player goes；
And He that toss'd you down into the Field；
He knows about it allHE knowsHE knows！
LXXI。
The Moving Finger writes； and； having writ；
Moves on： nor all your Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line；
Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it。
LXXII。
And that inverted Bowl they call the Sky；
Whereunder crawling coop'd we live and die；
Lift not your hands to It for helpfor It
As impotently moves as you or I。
LXXIII。
With Earth's first Clay They did the Last Man knead；
And there of the Last Harvest sow'd the Seed：
And the first Morning of Creation wrote
What the Last Dawn of Reckoning shall read。
LXXIV。
YESTERDAY This Day's Madness did prepare；
TO…MORROW's Silence； Triumph； or Despair：
Drink！ for you not know whence you came； nor why：
Drink！ for you know not why you go； nor where。
LXXV。
I tell you thisWhen； started from the Goal；
Over the flaming shoulders of the Foal
Of Heav'n Parwin and Mushtari they flung；
In my predestined Plot of Dust and Soul。
LXXVI。
The Vine had struck a fiber： which about
It clings my Beinglet the Dervish flout；
Of my Base metal may be filed a Key
That shall unlock the Door he howls without。
LXXVII。
And this I know： whether the one True Light
Kindle to Love； or Wrath consume me quite；
One Flash of It within the Tavern caught
Better than in