Lay of Kushta, Sonnet 2

In high and summer season gold Apuchi did blaze

The well-till’d plains of Armatta to bake in bitter heat,

Her cities marble and porphyry a sweltering aglow,

Her people eager seeking shade and shelter from his gaze.

Wide rivers bearing cargos traffick’d freely in her streets,

Stone iters bearing pilgrims from temples high and low,

All stilled, as strick’n, by strident solar pussiance were stay'd

And frozen as in amber, dazzling sunshine were entrapped

With ears aroar with pulsing blood to tropic ryhthm pounded.

Thus Armatta in siesta as prostrate at noon lay

While Apuchi held dominion o’er all, and with rapt

Attention spared none, but to each made full well astounded.

Such were the days of Armatta in blooming of the late spring

In the troublesome days before the return of the King.