Queen Djenira

Queen Djenira written by Walter de la Mare

The Listeners and Other Poems (1912)

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When Queen Djenira slumbers through
    The sultry noon's repose,
From out her dreams, as soft she lies,
    A faint thin music flows.

Her lovely hands lie narrow and pale
    With gilded nails, her head
Couched in its handed nets of gold
    Lies pillowed on her bed.

The little Nubian boys who fan
    Her cheeks and tresses clear,
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful voices
    Seem afar to hear.

They slide their eyes, and nodding, say,
    "Queen Djenira walks to-day
The courts of the lord Pthamasar
    Where the sweet birds of Psuthys are."

And those of earth about her porch
    Of shadow cool and grey
Their sidelong beaks in silence lean,
    And silent flit away.

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