A Turkish Legend

A certain pasha, dead five thousand years,
Once from his harem fled in sudden tears,

And had this sentence on the city’s gate
Deeply engraven, “Only God is great.”

So these four words above the city’s noise
Hung like the accents of an angel’s voice.

And evermore from the high barbican,
Saluted each returning caravan.

Lost is that city’s glory. Every gust
Lifts, with crisp leaves, the unknown pasha’s dust,

And all is ruin, save one wrinkled gate
Whereon is written, “Only God is great.”

Thomas Bailey Aldrich.