A MUSSULMAN TRADITION by Daniel Pomeroy

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 8, 1874

A MUSSULMAN TRADITION.

By Daniel Pomeroy

Upon a certain day Mohammed walked With Ali, his soul’s mate, and while they talked, Weaving deep words as only wise folks can, Sudden athwart their converse broke a man, Who, drunk with wine and wrath, essayed forthright To gird at Ali for imagined slight, Belching malicious jibes. The reverend sage, Awhile unfretted, bore the others’ rage; But, finally, his gentle sufferance failing, Repaid the insolent, railing for railing. Whereat Mohammed passed, as best they could Leaving the pair to settle up their feud. Next time the friends met, grumbled Ali: “Why Leftest thou me to give the churl the lie Unseconded?” “Brother,” Mohammed said, “While slander spat its venom on thy head And thou wert silent saw I angels ten, With wings as shield fending it back. But when Thou didst that noble reticence put off, Returning thy tormentor scoff for scoff, Then one by one away those angels flew, And when the last had left thee, I went too.”

—Daniel Pomeroy.