Who knows the heart of the Christian? How does he reason? <br />What are his measures and balances? Which is his season <br />For laughter, forbearance or bloodshed, and what devils move him <br />When he arises to smite us? I do not love him. <br />He invites the derision of strangers—he enters all places. <br />Booted, bareheaded he enters. With shouts and embraces <br />He asks of us news of the household whom we reckon nameless. <br />Certainly Allah created him forty-fold shameless! <br /> <br />So it is not in the Desert. One came to me weeping— <br />The Avenger of Blood on his track—I took him in keeping. <br />Demanding not whom he had slain, I refreshed him, I fed him <br />As he were even a brother. But Eblis had bred him. <br /> <br />He was the son of an ape, ill at ease in his clothing. <br />He talked with his head, hands and feet. I endured him with loathing. <br />Whatever his spirit conceived his countenance showed it <br />As a frog shows in a mud-puddle. Yet I abode it! <br /> <br />I fingered my beard and was dumb, in silence confronting him. <br />His soul was too shallow for silence, e'en with Death hunting him. <br />I said: "'Tis his weariness speaks," but, when he had rested, <br />He chirped in my face like some sparrow, and, presently, jested! <br /> <br />Wherefore slew I that stranger? He brought me dishonour. <br />I saddled my mare, Bijli, I set him upon her. <br />I gave him rice and goat's flesh. He bared me to laughter. <br />When he was gone from my tent, swift I followed after, <br />Taking my sword in my hand. The hot wine had filled him. <br />Under the stars he mocked me—therefore I killed him!<br /><br />Rudyard Kipling<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/hadramauti/
