Why does Field call the slave "vile"?

"Vile" is the term Abu Midjan's captors likely used — in that world, a Christian slave occupied the lowest social rung. Field adopts the viewpoint of the society depicted in the poem, rather than his own. By the end, the "vile" slave emerges as the poem's moral hero, adding a layer of quiet irony to the word choice.

What does the ending mean — "Allah, and only Allah, knows"?

The slave who kept the promise has died — "where rots the martyred Christian slave" — and no one knows where or how. Field's point is that this act of kindness between enemies was seen only by God. This honors the slave without making him seem overly sentimental: history may have forgotten him, but the poem asserts that his act was significant.

Is this poem anti-Islamic?

Not really. The "Prophet-Chief" who criticizes Abu Midjan represents strict authority, but Field empathizes with the individual in opposition to the institution — a theme he extends to all religions. In fact, the ending calls upon Allah as the ultimate witness to the slave's goodness, which is a gesture of respect, not dismissal.

What is the poem's meter and form?

The poem consists of quatrains—four-line stanzas—with an ABAB rhyme scheme. It follows a meter that is mostly iambic tetrameter, creating a ballad-like rhythm that tells a story. This structure fits the poem's intent well, as it feels like a legend being handed down through generations.

How does this poem connect to the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam?

FitzGerald's Rubaiyat, released in 1859, turned the wine-loving, fate-defying Persian poet into a cultural icon in the English-speaking world. Field was inspired by that tradition — the brave drinker who confronts death head-on, discovering more truth in a cup of wine than in religious teachings. Abu Midjan is essentially Field's take on that archetype, rooted in a real historical figure.

Why does the vine actually grow on the grave?

Field doesn't provide an explanation — he simply presents it as a fact: "Lo, over Abu Midjan's grave / With purpling fruit a vine-tree grows." The word "Lo" carries significant weight; it conveys a sense of revelation. The vine's growth appears as a subtle miracle, with the universe respecting Abu Midjan's desire even in the face of condemnation from religious authorities.

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ABU MIDJAN by Eugene Field

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Abu Midjan is a brief narrative poem centered on a Saracen warrior whose passion for wine leads him to request burial beneath a vine.

Poet: Eugene Field
Themes: death, faith, freedom

The PoemFull text

ABU MIDJAN

Eugene Field

_When Father Time swings round his scythe, Intomb me 'neath the bounteous vine, So that its juices, red and blithe, May cheer these thirsty bones of mine._ _"Elsewise with tears and bated breath Should I survey the life to be. But oh! How should I hail the death That brings that--vinous grace to me!"_ So sung the dauntless Saracen, Whereat the Prophet-Chief ordains That, curst of Allah, loathed of men, The faithless one shall die in chains. But one vile Christian slave that lay A prisoner near that prisoner saith: "God willing, I will plant some day A vine where liest thou in death." Lo, over Abu Midjan's grave With purpling fruit a vine-tree grows; Where rots the martyred Christian slave Allah, and only Allah, knows! ED Ed was a man that played for keeps, 'nd when he tuk the notion, You cudn't stop him any more'n a dam 'ud stop the ocean; For when he tackled to a thing 'nd sot his mind plum to it, You bet yer boots he done that thing though it broke the bank to do it! So all us boys uz knowed him best allowed he wuzn't jokin' When on a Sunday he remarked uz how he'd gin up smokin'. Now this remark, that Ed let fall, fell, ez I say, on Sunday-- Which is the reason we wuz shocked to see him sail in Monday A-puffin' at a snipe that sizzled like a Chinese cracker An' smelt fur all the world like rags instead uv like terbacker; Recoverin' from our first surprise, us fellows fell to pokin' A heap uv fun at "folks uz said how they had gin up smokin'." But Ed--sez he: "I found my work cud not be done without it-- Jes' try the scheme yourselves, my friends, ef any uv you doubt it! It's hard, I know, upon one's health, but there's a certain beauty In makin' sackerfices to the stern demands uv duty! So, wholly in a sperrit uv denial 'nd concession, I mortify the flesh 'nd smoke for the sake uv my perfession!"

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

Abu Midjan is a brief narrative poem centered on a Saracen warrior whose passion for wine leads him to request burial beneath a vine. Though he's judged for this desire, a Christian slave vows to plant a vine at his grave. The poem concludes with the vine flourishing, while the slave's destiny is left in God's hands. It reflects on themes of loyalty, faith, and the unexpected ways compassion can bridge divides between foes.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

_When Father Time swings round his scythe, / Intomb me 'neath the bounteous vine,_
Editor's note
Abu Midjan expresses a heartfelt wish: when he dies, he wants to be buried beneath a grapevine so that its juice can mingle with his bones. This image is both lighthearted and genuine—he desires wine to be a part of him, even in death. The phrase "Father Time swings round his scythe" personifies death as a reaper in a traditional way.
_"Elsewise with tears and bated breath / Should I survey the life to be._
Editor's note
Still in Abu Midjan's song, he acknowledges that without the promise of wine in the afterlife, he would dread facing death. However, with that promise, he would embrace death joyfully. The phrase "vinous grace" is clever—"grace" carries a religious connotation, yet he uses it in reference to wine, which is prohibited in Islam. This tension is the crux of the message.
So sung the dauntless Saracen, / Whereat the Prophet-Chief ordains
Editor's note
The narrator intervenes. Since Abu Midjan openly sings about wine, the religious authority condemns him: cursed by Allah, despised by people, destined to die in chains. "Dauntless" is crucial — Field admires this man's courage to embrace his passions, fully aware of the consequences.
But one vile Christian slave that lay / A prisoner near that prisoner saith:
Editor's note
A Christian slave, who is also a prisoner, overhears Abu Midjan's wish. Field refers to him as "vile," echoing the language of his captors—it's a label from the enemy, not the poet's own view. The slave quietly vows that if God permits, he will plant a vine on Abu Midjan's grave. Two condemned men, from different faiths, united by a single act of human kindness.
Lo, over Abu Midjan's grave / With purpling fruit a vine-tree grows;
Editor's note
The vine is real, and the promise was fulfilled. However, the poem takes a sharp turn: where is the Christian slave who kept it? Presumably dead — "where rots the martyred Christian slave" — and only Allah knows what became of him. Field concludes with this air of divine mystery, subtly implying that God acknowledged the slave's sacrifice, even if history overlooked it.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is both wry and mournful. Field narrates the story with a light, almost ballad-like pace, but the conclusion hits hard. There’s a sense of dry admiration for Abu Midjan's defiance, coupled with a subtle tenderness for the unnamed slave whose kindness remains unrecognized by anyone but, as the poem suggests, God.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The vine / grapevine: Wine and the vine represent earthly pleasures, forbidden joy, and encapsulate Abu Midjan's entire identity. The vine that grows on his grave fulfills his wish and symbolizes loyalty that endures even after death.
Father Time's scythe: A traditional view of death often portrays it as an inevitable and indifferent force. Abu Midjan, however, isn't afraid; he negotiates with death, revealing much about his character.
Chains: Both men are literally chained—one by religious law and the other by conquest. These chains symbolize the oppressive power structures that can crush individuals, yet they can't stop one man from making a promise to another.
The purpling fruit: The ripe grapes on the grave represent the poem's only splash of color and richness. They affirm that the promise was honored and grant Abu Midjan a form of posthumous triumph over the judgment that condemned him.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Eugene Field wrote this poem inspired by the legend of Abu Midjan al-Thaqafi, a 7th-century Arab warrior and poet who fought alongside the Prophet Muhammad's forces but faced punishment for his wine drinking. According to historical accounts, Abu Midjan requested to be buried under a vine, and a similar story about a Christian slave exists in Arabic and Persian literature. Field, who wrote in the 1880s and 90s, was captivated by figures who defied religious norms. Although he was primarily known as a children's poet and a humorist for newspapers, works like this reveal his broader interests, particularly in cross-cultural tales of human kindness. This poem reflects a longstanding Western tradition of romanticizing the wine-loving Saracen, influenced in part by Edward FitzGerald's hugely popular 1859 translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

Abu Midjan al-Thaqafi was a 7th-century Arab warrior and poet known for his role in the early Islamic conquests. He gained notoriety for his courage in battle and his defiance of Islamic laws against wine. It’s said that he faced flogging several times for drinking and even wrote verses expressing a desire to be buried beneath a vine. Field is drawing inspiration from that legend.

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ABU MIDJAN by Eugene Field

ABU MIDJAN

What this poem is about

Recurring themes

Stanza by stanza, with notes

How this poem feels

Symbols & metaphors

Historical context

Questions readers ask

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