O sad are they who know not love

O sad are they who know not love
But far from passions tears and smiles
Drift down a moonless sea
Beyond the silvery coasts of fairy Isles.
And sadder they whose longing lips
Kiss empty air and never touch
The dear warm mouth of those they love
Waiting, wasting, suffering much
But clear as amber, fine as musk
Is life to those who pilgrim-wise
Move hand in hand 
From dawn to dusk
Each morning nearer Paradise.
O not for them shall angels pray;
They stand in everlasting light -
They walk in Allah's smile by day
And nestle in his heart by night.

by Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836-1907) , no title, from Poems, in Two Songs from the Persian, no. 2, published 1863

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by George Whitefield Chadwick (1854-1931) , "Song from the Persian", published 1886 [tenor and piano], from Two songs, no. 2.
by William Arms Fisher (1861-1948) , "Sad are they who know not love", published 1897.
by Arthur Foote (1853-1937) , "A song from the Persian", published 1894.
by Bertha Ford , "Persian love song", published 1881.
by Lucy H. Paine , "Passion's tears", published 1908.

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