HANDING OVER THE GUN

Kill me if you will not love me.

Here are flints; Ram down the heavy bullet, little leopard, On the black powder.

Only you must not shoot me through the head, Nor touch my heart; Because my head is full of the ways of you And my heart is dead.

_Song of Syria._

_TATARS_

HONEY

Young man, If you try to eat honey On the blade of a knife, You will cut yourself.

If you try to taste honey On the kiss of a woman, Taste with the lips only, If not, young man, You will bite your own heart.

_Song of the Tatars._

_THIBET_

THE LOVE OF THE ARCHER PRINCE

The Khan.

The son of the Khan.

The love of the son of the Khan.

The veil of the love of the son of the Khan.

The clear breeze that lifted the veil of the love of the son of the Khan.

The buds of fire that scented the clear breeze that lifted the veil of the love of the son of the Khan.

The Archer Prince whose love kissed the buds of fire that scented the clear breeze that lifted the veil of the love of the son of the Khan.

And the girl married the Archer Prince whose love kissed the buds of fire that scented the clear breeze that lifted the veil of the love of the son of the Khan.

_Street Song of Thibet._

_TURKESTAN_

DISTICH

Your face upon a drop of purple wine Shows like my soul poised on a bead of blood.

_From the Turkic of Hussein Baikrani._

THINGS SEEN IN A BATTLE

Clear diamond heart, I have been hunting death Among the swords.

But death abhors my shadow, And I come back Wounded with memories.

Your eyes, For steel is amorous of steel And there are bright blue sparks.

Your lips, I see great b.l.o.o.d.y roses Cut in white dead b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Your bed, For I see wrestling bodies Under the evening star.

_From the Turkic._

HUNTER'S SONG

Not a stone from my black sling Ever misses anything, But the arrows of your eye Surer shoot and faster fly.

Not one creature that I hit Lingers on to know of it, But the game that falls to love Lives and lingers long enough.

_From the Turkic._

_TURKEY_

THE BATH

My dreams are bubbles of cool light, Sunbeams mingled in the light green Waters of your bath.