Orientale

William Ernest Henley 1849 (Gloucester) – 1903 (Woking)



She's an enchanting little Israelite,
A world of hidden dimples!--Dusky-eyed,
A starry-glancing daughter of the Bride,
With hair escaped from some Arabian Night,
Her lip is red, her cheek is golden-white,
Her nose a scimitar; and, set aside
The bamboo hat she cocks with so much pride,
Her dress a dream of daintiness and delight.
And when she passes with the dreadful boys
And romping girls, the cockneys loud and crude,
My thought, to the Minories tied yet moved to range
The Land o' the Sun, commingles with the noise
Of magian drums and scents of sandalwood
A touch Sidonian--modern--taking--strange!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

31 sec read
101

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBAABBACDECAE
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 599
Words 103
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

William Ernest Henley

William Ernest Henley was an English poet, critic and editor, best remembered for his 1875 poem "Invictus". more…

All William Ernest Henley poems | William Ernest Henley Books

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