"To Lionel Engers-Kennedy: to the memory of Hargrave Jennings: and <br />to A. C. W. G. and H. E. H." <br /> <br /> <br />Beneath the vine tree and the fig <br />Where mortal cares may not intrude, <br />On melon and on sucking pig <br />Although their brains are bright and big <br />Banquet the Great White Brotherhood. <br /> <br />Among the fountains and the trees <br />That fringed his garden's glowing border, <br />At sunset walked, and, in the breeze <br />With his disciples, took his ease <br />An Adept of the Holy Order. <br /> <br />"My children," Said the holy man, <br />"Once more I'm willing to unmask me. <br />This is my birthday; and my plan <br />Is to bestow on you (I can) <br />Whatever favour you may ask me." <br /> <br />Nor curiosity nor greed <br />Brought these disciples to disaster; <br />For, being very wise indeed, <br />The adolescents all agreed <br />To ask His Secret of the Master. <br /> <br />With the "aplomb" and "savoir faire" <br />Peculiar to Eastern races, <br />He took the secret then and there <br />(What, is not lawful to declare), <br />And thrust it rudely in their faces. <br /> <br />"A filthy insult!" screamed the first; <br />The second smiled, "Ingenious blind!" <br />The youngest neither blessed nor cursed, <br />Contented to believe the worst - <br />That He had spoken all his mind! <br /> <br />The second earned the name of prig, <br />The first the epithet of prude; <br />The third, as merry as a grig, <br />On melon and on sucking pig <br />Feasts with the Great White Brotherhood.<br /><br />Aleister Crowley<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-disciples/
