The Dove of Dacca
1892
The freed dove flew to the Rajah’s tower
Fled from the slaughter of Moslem kings
And the thorns have covered the city of Guar.
Dove dove oh, homing dove!
Little white traitor, with woe on thy wings!
The Rajah of Dacca rode under the wall;
He set in his bosom a dove of flight
“If she return, be sure that I fall.”
Dove dove oh, homing dove!
Pressed to his heart in the thick of the fight.
” Fire the palace, the fort, and the keep
Leave to the foeman no spoil at all.
In the flame of the palace lie down and sleep
If the dove if the dove if the homing dove
Come and alone to the palace wall.”
The Kings of the North they were scattered abroad
The Rajah of Dacca he slew them all.
Hot from slaughter he stooped at the ford,
And the dove the dove oh, the homing dove!
She thought of her cote on the palace-wall.
She opened her wings and she flew away
Fluttered away beyond recall;
She came to the palace at break of day.
Dove dove oh, homing dove,
Flying so fast for a kingdom’s fall!
The Queens of Dacca they slept in flame
Slept in the flame of the palace old
To save their honour from Moslem shame.
And the dove the dove oh, the homing dove,
She cooed to her young where the smoke-cloud rolled!
The Rajah of Dacca rode far and fleet,
Followed as fast as a horse could fly,
He came and the palace was black at his feet;
And the dove the dove the homing dove,
Circled alone in the stainless sky.
So the dove flew to the Rajah’s tower
Fled from the slaughter of Moslem kings;
So the thorns covered the city of Gaur,
And Dacca was lost for a white dove’s wings.
Dove dove oh, homing dove,
Dacca is lost from the Roll of the Kings!
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