The Akond of Swat

Always worth reading again – a poem by Edward Lear with no particular reference to Easter.

bq. Who or why, or which, or what,
Is the Akond of Swat?

bq. Is he tall or short, or dark or fair?
Does he sit on a stool or a sofa or chair,
or SQUAT,
The Akond of Swat?

bq. Is he wise or foolish, young or old?
Does he drink his soup and his coffee cold,
or HOT,
The Akond of Swat?

bq. At night, if he suddenly screams and wakes,
Do they bring him only a few small cakes,
or a LOT,
For the Akond of Swat?

bq. Does he live on turnips, tea or tripe?
Does he like his shawl to be marked with a stripe,
or a DOT,
The Akond of Swat?

The Akond of Swot was the ruler of a state now in Pakistan, although I couldn’t find akond in the OED.

bq. In the 19th century the Akund of Swat rose to power. He was a Sufi ascetic with a highly charismatic and warlike personality who united the Swatis and made his capital at Saidu Sharif.

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