Samarkand After James Elroy Flecker The Golden Journey To Samarkand Poem by Jonathan ROBIN

Master of the Caravan
'Silken sashes, salt slabs, precious spice,
Are but a tithe of goods we could sell well.
Make speed indeed for Fate deeds need's greed dice,
Acts wanton, plays with Man for Life. Farewell!
Rest here no longer, onward press, the price
Khans are prepared to pay, delayed a spell,
Alas to little sinks. Do not think twice!
Now start, trip chart, while omens augur well.
Dreams bloom beyond the dunes, this should suffice.'

Watchman
'Such haste bodes ill though gains' refrain entice,
As greed worms seed grain, weeds, feeds future fell.
Mist masks tomorrow’s vale whose veil may splice
Atrophied promise past, perpetual hell.
Recall through all Death levies high excise.
Karmas untold unfold Time’s ebb and swell.
All ill-conceived ambitions in a trice
Nature upsets, strips husk from empty shell.
Dreams remain but dreams - this should SUFfIce.'

Master of the Caravan
'Some bide abed, some ride ahead, pride's prize
Awaits who bates Fate’s fiat, makes good speed.
Much time they waste who hesitate, revise
Anticipations, calculate knock-kneed,
Refusing risks who Risk may soon surprise.
Knowledge alone is insufficient, heed
Argument essential: here time flies.
Nomadic caravans dispense our creed
Dissolving doubt when sun shines out, wind sighs.'

Watchman
'Spikenard, jam jarred, hard earned delight,
Attract both buyer, seller, this we grant.
Mayhap road goads humped camels when they sight
A date oasis lush with rush, palm, plant.
Remember though, dates found in palms may blight
Knit plan, wit ban, writ scan bones bleached, one can’t
Amass ten thousand fortunes overnight.
Nitty-gritty mirage fanned sands' chant:
Death’s veil tale closes, sentence recondite.'

Master of the Caravan
'Stale tale death's threat! for in life's lottery
All pay their debt, but bets hedged lack in spice.
Meals steal! may Carpe Diem! motto be.
Awhile we soujourn, none returneth twice.
Rewards are 'here and now' no pottery
Kiln can record our ventures, give advice,
Answer others who in sandstorms see
No trace of race we ran, clean saint, mean vice.
Dare we the current take, adventure free!

Watchman
'Swift start drift charts! ' said Tortoise to the Hare
As hasty judgements often end in loss,
Mouths stopped with dust, about bare bones lies hair
As sole reminder vulture Time stole toss.
Rein in rude camels! Shrewd unglued aren't rare!
Keep common-sense alert as common fosse
Awaits brash bluster, duster Death none spare.
New rash old bones won't make, nor gather moss,
Destiny tempts, pre-empts life everywhere! '

Master of the Caravan
'So should we stand and serve, swerve from our aim,
And leave our desert drive, desert tent stall?
Mark time, tell beads, or call on holy Name
Abdicate rush call to thrive in all,
Refusing barter, losing charter's fame,
Kismet set accept impassive thrall
As sun slaves static, quicksand swallowed quite?
No! who ‘gnaw nails of hurry’ must ignore
Dawn’s fuss, fear's hush: we’ll journey expedite! '

Watchman
'Some say: 'day after day swerves in and out,
Awareness granting those who cue to Time,
Move through, beyond their wanderlust, nerves, doubt,
Above the camel herd, interpret, climb
Refuting connotations 'with' 'without',
Keen sight prize more than transient trace grime
As dust dispersed by those who into night
Need haste to pawn, waste spendthrift pennies poured.
Deception willy-nilly waits vain [w]rite.