98 
The Atheist. 
 
 
 
XXV 
 
THE ATHEIST 
 
 
Nor thou, Habib, nor I are glad when rosy limbs 
and swart entwine ; 
But rapture drowns the sense and self, the wine 
the drawer of the wine, 
 
And Him that planted first the grape1— o podex2, 
in thy vault there dwells 
A charm to make the member mad, And shake the 
marrow of the spine. 
 
O member, in thy stubborn strength a power avails 
on podex-sense 
To boil the blood in breast and brain ;  shudder the 
nerves incarnadine !3 
 
From me thou drawest pearly drink — and in its 
pourings both are drunk. 
The Imam4 drives forth the drunken man from out 
the marble prayer-shrine. 
 
Blue Mushtari5 strove with red Mirrikh which 
should be master of the night — 
But where is Mushtari, where Mirrikh when in the 
sky the sun doth shine ? 
 
Now El Qahar to Hafiz gives the worship unto poets 
due :6 — 
But songs are nought and Music all ;  what poet 
music may define ?