Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A TALE FROM THE TALMUD, by WILLIAM DEARNESS First Line: In judah, in the days of story Last Line: Her hero dames shall bloom amain. Subject(s): God; Israel; Jews; Poetry & Poets; Tyranny & Tyrants; Judaism; Dictators | ||||||||
IN Judah, in the days of story, When chronicles were gilt with glory, Heroic dames and virgins then The equal honors earned with men; And God himself the prophet taught To praise and bless them as he ought. My heart exults to contemplate, My rhyme runs eager to relate Their courage firm, their high resolve, Their faith that nothing could dissolve. Oh, that enthusiasm strong Would from the theme inspire the song; That in this sad, degenerate time I'd write in poetry sublime What might some grace of emulation Raise in a faint and prostrate nation. I leave to men of deeper knowing The task of God's inerrant showing; How nature's best and noblest sons Are cursed and crushed by worthless ones; But this I know, that virtues holy Are brightened by contrasting folly, And constant courage best was shown When persecutors had the throne, And columns high had ne'er been reared, Had no invading foe appeared; And when to desperate straits we're brought, Then God's deliverance is wrought. When Judah by the Gentile arms Had seen th' extreme of war's alarms, O'erthrown her temple and her city, Her children slaughtered without pity; The demon conqueror intended Her name and fame should both be ended. He thought one dreadful, dire example Of horrid torture might be ample, Now that Jehovah'd them forsaken And from his folk his flight had taken. One matron from the drove he chooses, Her seven sons he also looses; In public presence will them test, To answer his supreme behest. The eldest, he him sets before; "Now, bending down, our gods adore." "The Lord forbid," he reverent cries; "His holy law such act denies. I to no imageneither thee Shall kiss the hand nor bend the knee." His life made forfeit then was taken His trust in Israel's God unshaken. The next that sacred household cherished, Who witnessed how his brother perished, At once responded: "Shall I less Than his my faith in God confess? I love God's lawits second word Is none but he is Israel's Lord." And so he died for truth and faith. The third, undaunted, also saith: "None but Jehovah worship I" And likewise he was drawn to die. The fourth the traitor's awful doom Sets forth: "Who in Jehovah's room Shall worship hero, god or demon" His young life, too, the sword makes claim on. "Our God is one," the Scripture saith, "And him alone I'll own in death." So died the fifth; our watchword brave Fresh courage to the next one gave: "Jehovahterrible is he Who, Israel, dwells in midst of thee; He may his awful plans conceal, But in his time he'll them reveal." So passed the youthful sixth, in dying, "Jehovah, take me," meekly sighing. Assuming now a tender mien The tyrant pleads: "My boy, you've seen How vain it is to trust in one Who utmost unconcern has shown. 'Tis only to respect our law I'd put your countrymen in awe; For Rome, supreme, must be obeyed Nor gods nor emperor gainsaid. The test from thee's a simple thing In front of Jove I'll drop my ring, Stoop down and pick it up; no thought Of inferential change is wrought." The bright-cheeked boy, his eyes upturned, The tyrant's seeming mercy spurned; His soul kept free from heathen stains Breaks forth in rapt prophetic strains: "Forever reigns our glorious Lord Performed shall be his faithful word; His kingdom raised, while ruined thine He'll to oblivion consign. As chastened Israel suffers now, So shall he purer offerings vow. His faith in days that have gone by Endear him to his God most high, And future glories wait the day When all mankind shall own his sway; "But thou might'st save thy soul if He Were but to show His power to thee." He thus to Chaldea's king made known His sovereign Lord and God alone. The prostrate king the word obeyed And favor found and humbly prayed. To God's own folk he mercy showed And so was blessed in his abode; But thou, nor truth nor mercy giving, Are but for greater vengeance living. "To death!" the raging tyrant cries. Prevention weak the mother tries, With arms enfolding makes her plea: "O let him not be torn from me My seventh, my last, my life, my all! On me let first thy vengeance fall. Sword, come on me, nor let me see The death of one so dear to me!" "Nay, nay," the scoffer made reply, "Your law forbids that you should die; 'Ye dare not slay the dam that day Ye take the offspring's life away.' " "Thou scourge of man, thou hand of God! Thy sins thy guilty soul shall load, Till down to depths thou shalt be driven, Transcending all that fell from heaven. But go, my son, when Abra'm thou In blissful peace shalt meet, avow Superior reverence to me For I gave seven, but one gave he But tempted was his faith when tried, See mine performedmy Isaacs died. "What shall I add?" Her reason flown, Why should she linger here alone Wandering unguarded, heedless, fell She whom her Lord had honored well. Has Judah now no valiant dame That might such awful honors claim? For answer: In my northern home You'll see, ere wintry weather come, The fields the cheery flowers adorn, Bejeweled bright at early morn; Then fierce the driving, biting storm Will bare the meads of every form That spring and summer spread around So lavish on the fertile ground. But brightly then the heather bell Purple the hills I love so well. When dangerous foxgloves, crimson clover Lie hid till winter storms are over; The bloom upon the Arcadian hills Is blown by that which verdure kills. If Judah's winter comes again, Her hero dames shall bloom amain. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LITANY FOR DICTATORSHIPS by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET FIN-DE-SIECLE BLUES by CAROLYN KIZER EPITAPH ON A TYRANT by WYSTAN HUGH AUDEN SIGISMONDA AND GUISCARDO by GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF 27 B.C. by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS AN EPISTLE TO CURIO by MARK AKENSIDE BEYOND THE BARS by GEORGE E. BOWEN TO AN ANTIQUE STILETTO by BERTON BRALEY SUNSHINE AFTER STORM; A TALE FROM THE TALMUD by WILLIAM DEARNESS |
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