An Important Maxim of Hafiz

(With Apologies to Rudyard Kipling)

All the world knew Sultan Hafiz as the wisest of the wise,

Each word he wrote was shining to philosophic eyes.

For years fourscore and seven he wrought with gilded pen

To inscribe his worldly knowledge for enlightenment of men.

In five great leather books the Sultan's teachings were preserved,

Yet to his many proverbs one addition is deserved.

Each day he sat in judgment hall from dawn to dusk, 'tis said,

Then in his private chamber he sought out his silken bed.

So wise a sage with beard of white had earned true well his rest,

But yet behold, have we forgot what pleases men the best?

Five stories down from where he lay the Sultan's harem stood,

And for man's needs three wives and twenty concubines made good.

Beside his bed in easy reach a brazen gong there swung.

He tapped it once and soon appeared a beardless eunuch young.

Unto the eunuch lad he said, "Fetch me a beauty now

And I shall take the pleasure that the Quran doth allow."

So swiftly down five flights of stairs the faithful servant ran

To reach the hidden harem where there never came a man.

On fine embroidered pillows the concubines reclined.

From out their midst, one plump and fair the eunuch lad did find.

A Nubian dark as night was she, with breasts so full and soft.

Fast up the stairs to Sultan's bed the lad led her aloft,

And Hafiz greeted her with joy and soon took off her gown

And on the bed in front of him the naked girl knelt down.

Her two dark moons thus beckoned him, and 'tween them grew her flower

And it its depth his hardened rod did spend a pleasant hour.

As he thrust deep she rocked her hips, her breasts were in his grasp,

And when he reached the final peak he climaxed with a gasp.

For only a few moments he lay beside her on the bed,

And then he rang the brazen gong and to his servant said,

"Return her now to whence she came, and bring me up one more."

This order sent the eunuch quickly running out the door.

The Nubian girl down stairs he led, and the harem reached anew,

Seized an Arab beauty for his lord and up the steps he flew.

Tall, dark and fair the concubine for Hafiz danced around,

'Til soon he pulled off her fine robe and left it on the ground.

Her belly round kept moving in the dance of all the East.

Backwards she bent and 'tween her legs the Sultan saw a feast.

He seized her hips and with his lips so hungry sought that mound

Wherein pink flesh and salty juice his heightened senses found.

Then she in turn bent down her head and reached his throbbing pole,

And in her mouth it went so deep it seemed she ate it whole.

They sported thus with lusty joy for full an hour it seemed,

Then "Take her back," the Sultan said, "One more I need," he deemed.

Down stairs again with all good speed went servant and the girl.

But when they reached the harem the lad's head was all awhirl.

Panting he leaned against the wall, but looked the pillows o'er,

And choosing a small Berber girl went up the stairs once more.

This one he brought to Sultan's bed, amazed as he did see

In that white crotch the upright rod stood hard as it could be.

The Sultan's hand waved to the bed, the girl lay on her back.

He seized her legs and spread them as if stretching on the rack.

Then to her chest he pushed her knees, and slightly raised her hips,

Her female parts he thus could view, all pink behind dark lips.

Deep into them his rod he rammed and drew it in and out

But slowly went his pleasure, he knew what he was about.

When at last he reached his climax, he lay back as if full spent,

But after a few moments to the gong his hammer went.

"Take this one back," his orders ran, "and one more bring to me."

The eunuch could but wonder how many there should be.

Down the stairs, and chose a girl, and up again he ran,

Each flower he brought, the Sultan entered hard as any man.

Three more indeed he led upstairs and brought to Hafiz' bed,

But yet again he heard the gong, "One more," his master said.

Downstairs the naked girl he led, they reached the harem door,

And gasping out with every word, the eunuch cried, "One more!"

A fine tall girl with henna'd hair and painted nipples now

He seized and led out to the stairs that he must climb somehow.

One flight he ran with all his speed, the concubine behind;

A second flight and then a third his faltering feet could find;

But as the fourth steep stairs he reached, his heart could take no more,

And clutching at his chest he fell in pain unto the floor.

The eunuch lad his duty to the last gasp had fulfilled,

But now his spirit fled the earth as Allah must have willed,

And terrified the concubine with wide dark eyes looked down,

Softly the tears ran down her face and wetted her fine gown.

Hafiz full soon was brought the news of faithful servant's fate,

And "Bring my pen," he called at once although the hour was late.

"A proverb new I shall inscribe that all young men must read,

So it be hoped that in their youth my warning they will heed."

Now in that ornate leather book, these golden words are writ:

"GETTING IT DOES KILL YOU NOT, IT'S RUNNING AFTER IT!!"

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