For the spear was a desert physician, That cured not a few of ambition, And drave not a few to perdition, With medicine bitter and strong.

- James Elroy Flecker

A ship, an isle, a sickle moon With few but with how splendid stars The mirrors of the sea are strewn Between their silver bars!

- James Elroy Flecker

Half to forget the wandering and pain, Half to remember days that have gone by, And dream and dream that I am home again!

- James Elroy Flecker

For pines are gossip pines the wide world through And full of runic tales to sigh or sing.

- James Elroy Flecker

For lust of knowing what should not be known, we take the Golden Road to Samarkand.

- James Elroy Flecker

We who with songs beguile your pilgrimage And swear that Beauty lives though lilies die, We Poets of the proud old lineage Who sing to find your hear…

- James Elroy Flecker

And some to Meccah turn to pray, and I toward thy bed, Yasmin.

- James Elroy Flecker

It is not the poet's business to save man's soul but to make it worth saving . . . However, few poets have written with a clear theory of art for art…

- James Elroy Flecker

I have seen old ships sail like swans asleep.

- James Elroy Flecker