Explore "Nectar and Blood" by Ameen Rihani on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
I / If I should worship at thine ancient shrine, / Where thy good sons, incensed by love of war, / Now clamor, as their fathers did of yore -- / If I should sacrifice what is not mine, / Nor any living god's, nor even thine -- / If for the sake of honor I must pour / This cup of life upon thy barren shore, / How will it fare then with my love divine?
No! let thy sons go forth to burn and slay: / Let them for love of thee and glory smear / And tear the love of all that's pure and dear; / Let them this loveless love in rage display; / I can not join them; no, I can not cheer / As they beneath my window pass today.