Devices And Desires

se: "Come and buy! Friend of the homing seaman I,? Swatow, Amoy, Hailam, Hong Kong!? Here is the cheer for which you long: Confections of such mealy paste As foreign countries never taste; Sauce of the sea-fish, briny still; And curries of a tropic will; Syrops of old Ayuthian brew, And fruit the Sumray gardens grew. . . . Ah, these cocoanuts of mine, Packed with meat and soaked with wine! Sugar-cane from Kanburee, Fresh and succulent,?buy of me! None has better store than I,? Come and buy!" The great pagoda stood intent Before the final sacrament: Circled in flame the last hour died; The crows, grown pious in their quest, Came to the Buddha's roof for rest,? So were the thieves beatified! Mingled still of honey and gall Rose the same rich, persuasive call: "Come and buy, O, come and buy! Like the temple crows am I, Going with the day to rest. . . Good people, outland fare is best! . . Here are messes, China-made, Rice and spices, green as jade; And fish from the Singora shore, Sun-dried upon a salty floor; Wines that no local vintage gets,? And long Manila cigarettes. . . . ! From Singapore the Rajah sent A fleet of such advertisement. . . New-fangled things for kings to try. Come and buy, O, come and buy!" Now, lo! the moon has builded high A peacock-palace in the sky, And in the magic of her light The trees lie silvery in the stream. . . Magnolias, moving in a dream, Offer their incense to the night. . . W...