Saki's Verses

A mouse that cried for allah’s aid, blasphemed when no such aid befell.
The call which devoured that mouse, thought allah managed rather well.

A poet praised the evening star, another praised the parrot’s hue.
A merchant praised his merchandise, and he, at least, praised what he knew.

“You are not on the road to hell”, you tell me with fanatic glee.
Vain boaster, what shall that avail, when hell is the road to meet thee!

There is a sadness in each dawn.
A sadness that you cannot see.
The joyous day brings in its train,
The feast, the beloved, and the steed.

There shall come a dawn at last,
That brings no life-stir to your ken.
A long cold dawn, without a day,
And you shall see its sadness then.