The freed dove flew to the Rajah's tower-
Fled from the slaughter of Moslem kings-
And the thorns have covered the city of Gaur.
Dove-dove-oh, homing dove!
Little white traitor, with woe on thy wings!
The Rajah of Dacca rode under the wall;
He set in his bosom a dove of flight-
`If she return, be sure that I fall."
Dove-dove-oh, homing dove!
Pressed to his heart in the thick of the fight.
"Fire the palace, the fort, and the keep-
Leave to the foeman no spoil at all.
In the flame of the palace lie down and sleep
If the dove-if the dove-if the homing dove
Come, and alone, to the palace wall."
The Kings of the North they were scattered abroad-
The Rajah of Dacca he slew them all.
Hot from slaughter he stooped at the ford,
And the dove-the dove-oh, the homing dove!
She thought of her cote on the palace-wall.
She opened her wings and she flew away-
Fluttered away beyond recall;
She came to the palace at break of day.
Dove-dove-oh, homing dove,
Flying so fast for a kingdom's fall!
The Queens of Dacca they slept in flame-
Slept in the flame of the palace old-
To save their honour from Moslem shame.
And the dove-the dove-oh, the homing dove,
She cooed to her young where the smoke-cloud rolled!
The Rajah of Dacca rode far and fleet,
Followed as fast as a horse could fly,
He came and the palace was black at his feet;
And the dove-the dove-the homing dove,
Circled alone in the stainless sky.
So the dove flew to the Rajah's tower-
Fled from the slaughter of Moslem kings;
So the thorns covered the city of Gaur,
And Dacca was lost for a white dove's wings.
Dove-dove-oh, homing dove,
Dacca is lost from the Roll of the Kings!
The Dove Of Dacca
Rudyard Kipling
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Poem topics: cloud, fire, heart, horse, sky, sleep, fight, young, flight, return, black, shame, thought, save, kingdom, Valentine's Day, break, alone, away, city, Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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