Author: Madison Julius Cawein
I She was a queen. 'Midst mutes and slaves, A mameluke, he loved her. - - Waves Dashed not more hopelessly the paves Of her high marble palace-stair Than lashed his love his heart's despair. - As souls in Hell dream Paradise, He suffered yet forgot it there Beneath Rommaneh's houri eyes. II With passion eating at his heart He served her beauty, but dared dart No amorous glance, nor word impart. - Tafi leather's perfumed tan Beneath her, on a low divan She lay 'mid cushions stuffed with down: A slave-girl with an ostrich fan Sat by her in a golden gown. III She bade him sing. Fair lutanist, She loved his voice. With one white wrist, Hooped with a blaze of amethyst, She raised her ruby-crusted lute: Gold-welted stuff, like some rich fruit, Her raiment, diamond-showered, rolled Folds pigeon-purple, whence one foot Drooped in an anklet-twist of gold. IV He stood and sang with all the fire That boiled within his blood's desire, That made him all her slave yet higher: And at the end his passion durst Quench with one burning kiss its thirst. - O eunuchs, did her face show scorn When through his heart your daggers burst? And dare ye say he died forlorn?
Type of Poem: Narrative Poem
Date Written:
Date Published:
Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Publisher:
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Comments/Notes: This poem unfolds a poignant narrative of unrequited love set within the confines of a royal court, the key theme being the inevitable tragedy of love that crosses societal and class boundaries. The central characters, a queen and her slave, are depicted with powerful imagery that emphasizes their contrasting positions in society. The queen is depicted with opulence and luxury, while the slave is defined by his devotion and despair.
The poem’s structure, divided into four stanzas, carefully builds tension with each part highlighting a different aspect of the narrative. It begins by setting the scene, moves on to describing the queen's luxurious lifestyle, details the slave's performance, and finally, ends with his tragic demise. The tone is charged with intense passion and despair, creating a sense of inevitability.
Pervasive throughout the poem are rich metaphors and descriptive language that not only paint a vivid picture but also heighten the emotional intensity. The comparison of the slave's love to "waves" hopelessly dashing against the palace stairs is a striking metaphor for his futile love. The use of color and rich materials in the third stanza serves to emphasize the queen's status and the wide gulf between the two characters. The concluding lines of the poem are particularly powerful, leaving the audience with the question of whether the slave’s extreme act of passion was indeed scorned or secretly reciprocated, and whether his death can truly be considered forlorn. This open-ended question imbues the poem with a sense of tragic ambiguity.
Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator and characters as well. Unlike lyric poetry, which focuses on emotions and thoughts, narrative poetry is dedicated to storytelling, weaving tales that captivate readers through plot and character development.
Narrative poems are unique in their ability to combine the depth of storytelling with the expressive qualities of poetry. Here are some defining characteristics:
From ancient epics like "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to more modern narrative poems, this form continues to engage readers by blending the art of storytelling with the beauty and rhythm of poetry.