God’s constant affection. 
89 
 
 
 
XXI 
 
THE LOVE POTION 
 
 
Whoso hath fair Habib to sing and play1 
May scoff at all the jinseng of Cathay.2 
 
That naked podex knows a sacred spell 
To exorcise the Jinn that bring decay. 
 
One glance, one touch, and acorn springs to oak— 
God sees the daystar, and invokes the day. 
 
If Suleiman3 with all his concubines 
From dusk to dawn consecutively lay, 
 
Yet at thy buttock’s velvet, O Habib, 
That man would rise erect from mudded clay. 
 
Bid thou the Qazi to thine house ;  I ween 
That he would sprout a member on the way. 
 
Or didst thou call upon him in the tomb 
Isa4 would rise, as silly Christians say. 
 
Thy podex being his, thine El Qahar 
Is always gold, and never rose and grey.5 
 
 
 
1.  The word used here is [Persian text] ‘ hearing ’ 
and also “ the Song and Dance of the Mevliviyeh 
dervishes.”  Thus far Palmer ;  and I can learn no 
more.  But probably the word is used to emphasize 
the purely religious nature of the passion.