The Crimean Tartars. Edna Dean Proctor (1829-1923). Crimea (Taurica Chersonesus). Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. 1876-79. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes. Russia: Vol. XX

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Russia: Vol. XX. 1876–79.

Crimea (Taurica Chersonesus)

The Crimean Tartars

Edna Dean Proctor (1829–1923)


AND still the Tartar loves the shores
The Euxine washes, and deplores
The glories of his race, gone by!
And often when the east-winds sigh,—
The winds that warm from Asia blow,—	5
He dreams ’t is the murmur of hosts that go
Forth with Genghis and Timour strong;
And his dark eyes flash, and he hears the song
Of the victors sung where the tent lines glisten,
While, couched on carpets Bokhara wove	10
For the chiefs that over their pastures rove,
The Khan and his jewelled ladies listen.

But the wind goes by, and a roll of drums
From the fort of the conquering Russian comes;
And their ships sail over the Euxine’s foam,	15
And their bells ring clear from tower and dome:
“It was written in Fate’s decree,” he cries;
“Allah requite us in Paradise!”