The writings of John Greenleaf Whittier, Volume 3.
John Greenleaf Whittier, Ed.

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[174] The Arab by his desert well
     Sits choosing from some Caliph's daughters,
And hears his single camel's bell
     Sound welcome to his regal quarters.

The Koran's reader makes complaint
     Of Shitan dancing on and off it;
The robber offers alms, the saint
     Drinks Tokay and blasphemes the Prophet.

Such scenes that Eastern plant awakes;
     But we have one ordained to beat it,
The Haschish of the West, which makes
     Or fools or knaves of all who eat it.

The preacher eats, and straight appears
     His Bible in a new translation;
Its angels negro overseers,
     And Heaven itself a snug plantation!

The man of peace, about whose dreams
     The sweet millennial angels cluster,
Tastes the mad weed, and plots and schemes,
     A raving Cuban filibuster!

The noisiest Democrat, with ease,
     It turns to Slavery's parish beadle;
The shrewdest statesman eats and sees
     Due southward point the polar needle.

The Judge partakes, and sits erelong
     Upon his bench a railing blackguard;