Faded and pale their beauty, vanished their early bloom, <br />Their folded leaves emit alone a sweet though faint perfume, <br />But, oh! than brightest bud or flower to me are they more dear, <br />They come from that rose-haunted land, the bright Vale of Cashmere. <br /> <br />Cashmere! a spell is in that name! what dreams its sound awakes <br />Of roses sweet as Eden’s flowers, of minarets and lakes, <br />Of scenes as vaguely, strangely bright as those of fairy land, <br />Springing to life and loveliness ’neath some enchanter’s wand! <br /> <br />Cashmere! poetic in its name, its clear and brilliant skies <br />That seem to clothe earth, flower and wave in their own lovely dyes; <br />Poetic in its legend lore, and spell more dear than all, <br />Enshrined in poet’s inmost heart, the home of “Nourmahal.” <br /> <br />Yes, there oft fell her fairy feet, there shone the glances bright, <br />That won for her the glorious name of harem’s queen and light; <br />There, as she wandered ’mid its bowers, her royal love beside, <br />She taught him to forget all else save her, his beauteous, bride. <br /> <br />Cashmere! what would this heart not give to see thy favored earth, <br />So rich in nature’s peerless gifts, in beauty’s dazzling worth, <br />Rich in a name that in mine ear from childhood’s hour hath rung, <br />The land of which impassioned Moore with such sweet power hath sung. <br /> <br />Yet, were I there, oh! well I know the time would surely come <br />When my yearning heart would turn again to my far Canadian home, <br />Longing to look once more upon its wintry wastes of snow, <br />And the friends whose hearts throb like mine own, with friendship’s changeless glow.<br /><br />Rosanna Eleanor Leprohon<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/on-some-rose-leaves-brought-from-the-vale-of-cashmere/
