John Greenleaf Whittier,
The Palm-Tree
“ And a palm-thatch shields from the sun aloft!His dress is woven of palmy strands, And he holds a palm-leaf scroll in his hands, Traced with the Prophet's wise commands!The turban folded about his head Was daintily wrought of the palm-leaf braid, And the fan that cools him of palm was made.Of threads of palm was the carpet spun Whereon he kneels when the day is done, And the foreheads of Islam are bowed as one!To him the palm is a gift divine, Wherein all uses of man combine,-- House, and raiment, and food, and wine! ”
