| BALKIS was in her marble town, | |
| And shadow over the world came down. | |
| Whiteness of walls, towers and piers, | |
| That all day dazzled eyes to tears, | |
| Turned from being white-golden flame, | 5 |
| And like the deep-sea blue became. | |
| Balkis into her garden went; | |
| Her spirit was in discontent | |
| Like a torch in restless air. | |
| Joylessly she wandered there, | 10 |
| And saw her city's azure white | |
| Lying under the great night, | |
| Beautiful as the memory | |
| Of a worshipping world would be | |
| In the mind of a god, in the hour | 15 |
| When he must kill his outward power; | |
| And, coming to a pool where trees | |
| Grew in double greeneries, | |
| Saw herself, as she went by | |
| The water, walking beautifully, | 20 |
| And saw the stars shine in the glance | |
| Of her eyes, and her own fair countenance | |
| Passing, pale and wonderful, | |
| Across the night that filled the pool. | |
| And cruel was the grief that played | 25 |
| With the queen's spirit; and she said: | |
| "What do I here, reigning alone? | |
| For to be unloved is to be alone. | |
| There is no man in all my land | |
| Dare my longing understand; | 30 |
| The whole folk like a peasant bows | |
| Lest its look should meet my brows | |
| And be harmed by this beauty of mine. | |
| I burn their brains as I were sign | |
| Of God's beautiful anger sent | 35 |
| To master them with punishment | |
| Of beauty that must pour distress | |
| On hearts grown dark with ugliness. | |
| But it is I am the punisht one. | |
| Is there no man, is there none, | 40 |
| In whom my beauty will but move | |
| The lust of a delighted love; | |
| In whom some spirit of God so thrives | |
| That we may wed our lonely lives. | |
| Is there no man, is there none?"— | 45 |
| She said, "I will go to Solomon." | |
