“Also, upon the slope of Arafat, Beneath a lote-tree which is fallen flat, Toileth a yellow ant who carrieth home Food for her nest, but so far hath she come Her worn feet fail, and she will perish, caught In the falling rain; but thou, make the way naught-And help her to her people in the cleft Of the black rock.”

                              Silently Gabriel left
          The Presence, and prevented the king’s sin,
          And holp the little ant at entering in.

          O Thou whose love is wide and great,
          We praise Thee, “The Compassionate”

THE AFTERNOON

          From ‘Pearls of the Faith’

     He is sufficient, and He makes suffice;
     Praise thus again thy Lord, mighty and wise.

     God is enough! thou, who in hope and fear
       Toilest through desert-sands of life, sore tried,
     Climb trustful over death’s black ridge, for near
       The bright wells shine:  thou wilt be satisfied.

     God doth suffice!  O thou, the patient one,
       Who puttest faith in Him, and none beside,
     Bear yet thy load; under the setting sun
       The glad tents gleam:  thou wilt be satisfied.

     By God’s gold Afternoon! peace ye shall have: 
       Man is in loss except he live aright,
     And help his fellow to be firm and brave,
       Faithful and patient:  then the restful night!

     Al Mughni! best Rewarder! we
     Endure; putting our trust in Thee.

          THE TRUMPET

     From ‘Pearls of the Faith’

     Magnify Him, Al-Kaiyum; and so call
     The “Self-subsisting” God who judgeth all.

     When the trumpet shall sound,
       On that day,
     The wicked, slow-gathering,
       Shall say,
     “Is it long we have lain in our graves? 
       For it seems as an hour!”
     Then will Israfil call them to judgment: 
       And none shall have power
     To turn aside, this way or that;
       And their voices will sink
     To silence, except for the sounding
       Of a noise, like the noise on the brink
     Of the sea when its stones
       Are dragged with a clatter and hiss
     Down the shore, in the wild breakers’ roar! 
       The sound of their woe shall be this:—­

     Then they who denied
       That He liveth Eternal, “Self-made,”
     Shall call to the mountains to crush them;
       Amazed and affrayed.

     Thou Self-subsistent, Living Lord! 
     Thy grace against that day afford.

          ENVOI TO ‘THE LIGHT OF ASIA’