The Runners (Indian Frontier, 1904)

NEWS! What is the word that they tell now-now–now– The little drums beating in the bazaars? They beat (among the buyers and the sellers) "Nimrud–ah Nimrud ! God sends a gnat against Nimrud!" Watchers, O Watchers a thousand! News! At the edge of the crops-now-now-where the well-wheels are halted, One prepares to loose the bullocks and one scrapes his hoe, They beat (among the sowers and the reapers) "Nimrud-ah Nimrud ! God prepares an ill day for Nimrud!" Watchers, O Watchers ten thousand. News! By the fires of the camps-now-now-where the travellers meet Where the camels come in and the horses, their men conferring, They beat (among the packmen and the drivers) "Nimrud-ah Nimrud Thus it befell last noon to Nimrud!" Watchers, O Watchers an hundred thousand! News! Under the shadow of the border-peels-now-now-now ! In the rocks of the passes where the expectant shoe their horses, They beat (among the rifles and the riders) "Nimrud-ah Nimrud! Shall we go up against Nimrud?" Watchers, O Watchers a thousand thousand ! News! Bring out the heaps of grain - open the account-books again! Drive forward the well-bullocks against the taxable harvest! Eat and lie under the trees - pitch the police-guarded fairgrounds, O dancers! Hide away the rifles and let down the ladders from the watch towers! They beat (among all the peoples) "Now-now-now! God has reserved the Sword for Nimrud! God has given Victory to Nimrud ! Let us abide under Nimrud!" O Well-disposed and Heedful, an hundred thousand! thousand.