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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE PRAYER OF THE HIGH PRIEST (100 YEARS B.C.E.), by                    
First Line: The high priest at the altar lingering stood
Last Line: "than thou, the least."
Subject(s): Clergy; God; Jews; Prayer; Synagogues; Priests; Rabbis; Ministers; Bishops; Judaism


THE High Priest at the altar lingering stood—
The service o'er.
The worshippers with faces kind and good,
Passed from the door.

The synagogue was empty; only one—
A Child—remained;
With eager eyes as shining as the Sun
He stood as chained.

"Kohen Gadol," said he, "When I grow
To man's estate,
I hope that I shall know the things you know
And be as great.

"And Oh, I wish such glorious robes to wear
As these of yours,
Dear Master, intercede for me in prayer,
For that secures

"What e'er you ask. And here—behold I bring
These beauteous flowers;
Upon the brink of Kedron they did cling
These many hours.

"Accept them. With the other blossoms—see?—
Are here, so fair,
The Valley Lilies; these I give to thee,
Now make thy prayer."

On that boy's head the High Priest—smiling—laid
A kindly hand.
He said: "My child, these lilies here have prayed;
They understand

"As well as I the mysteries of God.
I ask for you
Such raiment as the flowers of the sod
When fresh with dew.

"Abide thou in thine innocence, for lo!
The Great High Priest
May even less of God—Jehovah—know
Than thou, the Least."





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