Kanva on Himself + 

Now wherefore hast thou tears innumerous? + 

Hast thou not known all sorrow and delight + 

Wandering of yore in forests rumorous, + 

Beneath the flaming eyeballs of the night, + 

And as a slave been wakeful in the halls + 

Of Rajas and Mahrajas beyond number? + 

Hast thou not ruled among the gilded walls? + 

Hast thou not known a Raja’s dreamless slumber? + 

Hast thou not sat of yore upon the knees + 

Of myriads of beloveds, and on thine + 

Have not a myriad swayed below strange trees + 

In other lives? Hast thou not quaffed old wine + 

By tables that were fallen into dust + 

Ere yonder palm commenced his thousand years? + 

Is not thy body but the garnered rust + 

Of ancient passions and of ancient fears? + 

Then wherefore fear the usury of Time, + 

Or Death that cometh with the next life-key? + 

Nay, rise and flatter her with golden rhyme, + 

For as things were so shall things ever be. + 