TOBACCO LEAVES 



Latakieh fumes his sensual palate please. 

 While round-limbed almees dance near his 

 divan. 



Slaves lure away ennui with flower and 



fan; 

 And as his gem-tipped chibouque glows, 



he sees, 



In dreamy trance, those marvellous mys- 

 teries 

 The prophet sings of in the Al-Koran! 



Pale, dusk-eyed girls, with sequin-studded 



hair, 

 Dart through the opal clouds like agile 



deer, 



With sensuous curves his fancy to pro- 

 voke 



Delicious houris, ravishing and fair, 

 Who to his vague and drowsy mind ap- 

 pear 



99 



