Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MIRIAM, by E. DUDLEY JACKSON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MIRIAM, by                    
First Line: Oh, for that day, that day of bliss entrancing
Last Line: "forever and ever."
Subject(s): Egypt; God; Jews; Women In The Bible; Judaism


OH, for that day, that day of bliss entrancing
When Israel stood, her night of bondage o'er.
And leaped in heart to see no more advancing
Egypt's dark host along the desert shore;
For scarce a ripple now proclaimed where lay
The boasting Pharaoh and his fierce array.

Miriam! she silent stood, that sight beholding,
And bowed with sacred awe her wondering head.
Till lo! No more their hideous spoils withholding
The depths indignant, spurned their buried dead;
And all along that sad and vengeful coast
Pale corpses lay,—a monumental host.

Miriam! She saw; then all to life awaking,—
"Sing to the Lord," with a great voice she cried;
"Sing to the Lord," their many timbrels shaking,
Ten thousand ransomed hearts and tongues replied;
While, leading on the dance in triumph long
Thus the great Prophetess broke forth in song:

"Oh, sing to the Lord,
Sing his triumph right glorious;
"O'er horse and rider
Sing his right arm victorious;
Pharaoh's horsemen and chariots
And captains so brave,
The Lord hath thrown down
In the bottomless wave.

"Man of war is the Lord
And Jehovah is His name;
We trusted his pillar
Of cloud and of flame.
Proud boasters, ye followed
But where have ye gone?
Down, down in the waters
Ye sank like a stone.

"O Lord thou didst blow
With thy nostrils a blast
And upheaved, the huge billows
Like mountains stood fast!
Egypt shuddered with wonder
That pathway to see,
Those depths all congealed
In the heart of the sea.

"'I, too, will march onward'
(The enemy cried)
I shall soon overtake
I, the spoil will divide
I will kill'—O my God!
The depths fell at thy breath
And like lead they went down
In those waters of death.

"But o'er us the soft wings
Of thy mercy outspread,
To thine own chosen dwelling
Our feet have been led.
Palistrina, affrighted,
The tidings shall hear,
And your hearts, O ye nations,
Shall wither with fear.

"Thus brought in with triumph
Safe planted and blessed
On thy own holy mountain
Thy people shall rest.
Shout! Pharaoh is fallen
To rise again never.
Sing! The Lord he shall reign
Forever and ever."





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