The Joys of the Hookah
(I dont smoke but digitizing this)
THE JOYS OF THE HOOKAH*.
Though some may smoke segar, cheroot,
Or others taste a pipe may suit,
They cant with thee the palm dispute,
My Hookah.
When oft in boats Ive been confind,
And evry festive scene resigned,
Thou hast consold my drooping mind,
My Hookah.
Whilst slow the pinnace seemd to glide,
Along the Gungas barren side,
What pleasing comfort thou supplied,
My Hookah.
And when for weeks no change Ive seen,
No fertile banks or meadows green,
With thee Ive neer dejected been,
My Hookah.
In gloomy jungles, where, alas!
No friend was near to quaff the glass,
Still did the hours contented pass,
My Hookah.
And if the season bred disease,
From stagnant jeels or witherd trees,
They smoke dispelld the noxious breeze,
My Hookah.
Exposd to Sols meridian power,
Or delugd by the pelting shower,
Thou cheerdst me in the gloomy hour,
My Hookah.
In camps where oft untimely fell,
The valiant youth by fevers spell,
They fumes for ever kept me well,
My Hookah.
From lengthend march the foe to meet,
Assaild by thirst, exposd to heat,
The conflict gaind! Id joyful greet
My Hookah.
By arduous duty now deprest,
My strength exhausted, still no rest,
To me though then wert doubly blest,
My Hookah.
Then as I sat beneath a tree,
If shade there haply chancd to be,
I seizd thy snake with extasy,
My Hookah.
And now with evils still more trying,
To grieve for friends, departed, dying,
Alas! I often smokd thee sighing,
My Hookah.
The heart which can refuse a tear
For those who fall in wars career,
Can neer deserve thy envyd cheer,
My Hookah.
And if by chance in party dining,
Where conversation seed declining,
I never thought of once repining,
My Hookah.
But if that silence should be broke,
I did as others did, I spoke,
And then resumed thy snake to smoke,
My Hookah.
Should lovely women deign partake,
A whiff or two for smokings sake,
What odour would it give thy snake,
My Hookah.
Not nectar would I wish to sip,
Allowd that blest Munall to grip,
Which has been pressd by womans lip,
My Hookah.
If Hookahs can such pleasure give,
And smokers can such joys recieve,
Oh! let me smoke thee while I live,
My Hookah.
Notes:
Verse
1st, "Cheroot," an Eastern name for segar.
3d, "Gunga." the native appellation for the Ganges,
5th, "Jungle", thick forests.
6th, "Jeel," large pools formed by the rains; and from their stagnant state, rendering the neighbourhood peculiarly unhealthy.
11th, "Snake," the name given to the long flexible tube which conveys the smoke.
17th "Munall," the part applied to the mouth; made of gold, silver, or agate,
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