Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Russia: Vol. XX. 1876–79.
An Inscription in the Crimea
By Samuel Rogers (1763–1855)S
Whate’er thou art, who wouldst allay thy thirst,
Drink and be glad. This cistern of white stone,
Arched, and o’erwrought with many a sacred verse,
This iron cup chained for the general use,
And these rude seats of earth within the grove,
Were given by Fatima. Borne hence a bride,
’T was here she turned from her beloved sire,
To see his face no more. O, if thou canst
(’T is not far off), visit his tomb with flowers;
And with a drop of this sweet water fill
The two small cells scooped in the marble there,
That birds may come and drink upon his grave,
Making it holy.