'The Eunuch', a poem by Ralph Chaplin

Here's a poem, "The Eunuch," from the collection Bars and shadows: the prison poems of Ralph Chaplin. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1922.

The Eunuch

(To those who fight on the side of the Powers of Darkness)

ONCE a Eunuch by the palace
In the sunset s fading glow
Felt the soft warm breezes blow ;

Watched the fair girls of the Harem
Idly saunter to and fro.

Saw he beauty young and lavish
Fierce to lure man s every sense
(Grim the Eunuch stood and tense)

Laughingly the sparkling fountain
Mocked his bleak incompetence.

Came the Sultan from his hunting
Flaming with the zest of life ;
(Laid aside were spear and knife)

Came for wine and song and feasting.
Came to seek his fairest wife.

Opened then the marble portals.
Fragrant incense filled the air
(Sandalwood and roses rare),

While the girls with red-lipped languor
Scattered flowers everywhere.
Far away the fabled mountains
(Like some paradise of old)
Glowed with lavender and gold.

Tense the Eunuch stood and silent
Tense and sullen, tense and cold.

Now a quick impotent fury

Lashed him like a bronze-tipped cord.

Sprang he at the youthful lord.
Sprang again with blade all bloody . . .

(Famished lust and dripping sword.)

Night crept on all chill and ghastly.
Jackals trotted forth to bark,
(Murder shuddered, still and stark . .

By the palace ceased the fountain

And the whole grey world grew dark.