And at my silent window-sill The jessamine peeps in.

Out in the lonely woods the jasmine burns Its fragrant lamps, and turns Into a royal court with green festoons The banks of dark lagoons.

And the jasmine flower in her fair young breast, (O the faint, sweet smell of that jasmine flower!) And the one bird singing alone to his nest. And the one star over the tower.

It smelt so faint, and it smelt so sweet, It made me creep and it made me cold. Like the scent that steals from the crumbling sheet Where a mummy is half unroll'd.

Jas in the Arab language is despair, And Min the darkest meaning of a lie. Thus cried the Jessamine among the flowers, How justly doth a lie Draw on its head despair! Among the fragrant spirits of the bowers The boldest and the strongest still was I. Although so fair, Therefore from Heaven A stronger perfume unto me was given Than any blossom of the summer hours.

Among the flowers no perfume is like mine; That which is best in me comes from within. So those in this world who would rise and shine Should seek internal excellence to win. And though 'tis true that falsehood and despair Meet in my name, yet bear it still in mind That where they meet they perish. All is fair When they are gone and nought remains behind.