'Yussouf' by James Russell Lowell

   The poem 'Yussouf' belongs to an American romantic poet James Russell Lowell. Before we begin the analysis of the poem,  let us discuss some important things related to the author.  

•    He was born in an aristocratic (Brahmin) family. 
• He advocated the civil rights movement in America. 
•  There are some other reforms which has been attributed to him. Like,  anti slavery reforms, and American Renaissance. 
• He had been associated with the group called Fireside Poets, it is connected with the New England poets. 
• His most of the poems are connected with the theme of morality, forgiveness and philosophy of happiness.   

 A stranger came one night to Yussouf’s tent,
   Saying, “Behold one outcast and in dread,
 Against whose life the bow of power is bent  Who flies, and hath not where to lay his head;
    I come to thee for shelter and for food,    To Yussouf, called through all our tribes ‘The  Good.’”

The poem begins with the description of a gloomy night, A Stranger, hurriedly reaches at Yussouf's tent and asks for the shelter and food.  It seems that he has been ostracized by the powerful person.  ( Here it raises so many questions in our mind that why he has been outcasted ? Has he done something wrong to them ?  Is he lying  ? Or Is he on a secret mission  ? etc,. In addition, the stranger asks for the goodness.  

    “This tent is mine,” said Yussouf, “but no more

   Than it is God’s; come in, and be at peace;
     Freely shalt thou partake of all my store
         As I of his who buildeth over these
Our tents his glorious roof of night and day,
And at whose door none ever yet heard Nay.”

    In reply,  Yussouf tells him that he himself the head of the tent but no more than God. So be at peace and nobody heard " Nay " at my door. Here we can see the good qualities of Yussouf and becomes the saviour for the stranger. 

  So Yussouf entertained his guest that night,
  And, waking him ere day, said: “Here is gold,
   My swiftest horse is saddled for thy flight,
     Depart before the prying day grow bold.”
  As one lamp lights another, nor grows less,
       So nobleness enkindleth nobleness.

   Moving further, Yussouf provides good hospitalities to the stranger and asks him to depart by taking Yussouf's horse and some money,  so he can save his life from the enemies. The character of Yussouf, represents the morality by showing the nobleness towards the stranger. 

   That inward light the stranger’s face made.      grand,
Which shines from all self-conquest; kneeling low,
      He bowed his forehead upon Yussouf’s.          hand,
     Sobbing: “O Sheik, I cannot leave thee so;
      I will repay thee; all this thou hast done
        Unto that Ibrahim who slew thy son!”

    After getting impressed with the facilities given by Yussouf, stranger bow down to him  and promises to 'repay'. After this great attachments,  suddenly we see change in the poem as that stranger whose name is Ibrahim, who confesses that he himself had killed the Yussouf's son.  

 “Take thrice the gold,” said Yussouf, “for with.  thee Into the desert, never to return,
  My one black thought shall ride away from      me;
First-born, for whom by day and night I yearn,
   Balanced and just are all of God’s decrees;
   Thou art avenged, my first-born, sleep in          peace!”

  The confession of Ibrahim might have shocked Yussouf, seems stuck in two states of mind, But as he considers himself as a great worshiper of God, he forgives the stranger by giving thrice gold and says never to return back at his tent again.