'He shall sleep unscathed of thieves <br />Who loves Allah and believes.' <br />Thus heard one who shared the tent, <br />In the far-off Orient, <br />Of the Bedouin ben Ahrzz-- <br />Nobler never loved the stars <br />Through the palm-leaves nigh the dim <br />Dawn his courser neighed to him! <br /> <br />He said: 'Let the sands be swarmed <br />With such thieves as I, and thou <br />Shalt at morning rise unharmed, <br />Light as eyelash to the brow <br />Of thy camel amber-eyed, <br />Ever munching either side, <br />Striding still, with nestled knees, <br />Through the midnight's oases.' <br /> <br />'Who can rob thee an thou hast <br />More than this that thou hast cast <br />At my feet-- this dust of gold? <br />Simply this and that, all told! <br />Hast thou not a treasure of <br />Such a thing as men call love?' <br /> <br />'Can the dusky band I lead <br />Rob thee of thy daily need <br />Of a whiter soul, or steal <br />What thy lordly prayers reveal? <br />Who could be enriched of thee <br />By such hoard of poverty <br />As thy niggard hand pretends <br />To dole me-- thy worst of friends? <br />Therefore shouldst thou pause to bless <br />One indeed who blesses thee: <br />Robbing thee, I dispossess <br />But myself--. Pray thou for me!' <br /> <br />He shall sleep unscathed of thieves <br />Who loves Allah and believes.<br /><br />James Whitcomb Riley<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/out-of-nazareth/
