A Musician And Goatherd Poem by AFFAQ NABI

And a musician sang aloud in a narrow vale,
His drum's wild voice exceeded earth's consent.
A goatherd passed and said, with tempered tale:
"Lower your tune; the sky is noise-bent, spent."
The musician arched his brow in proud disdain:
"Go tend your goats, rough man, disturb me not."
The words struck fire within the shepherd's vein;
His calm turned flame, his silence turned to thought.
"Know this, " he said, "two prophets herded sheep,
And loved their lambs in a pasture steep and wide.
Why did God choose a shepherd's path to keep,
Not bookish tongues nor songs with swelling pride?
God sees beyond the world the senses scan."
The drum fell mute; the singer bowed to Man,
No, bowed to God, beyond the mortal plan.