Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BY THE RIVERS OF BABYLON WE SAT DOWN AND WEPT, by GEORGE GORDON BYRON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: We sat down and wept by the waters Last Line: With the voice of the spoiler by me! Alternate Author Name(s): Byron, Lord; Byron, 6th Baron Variant Title(s): Psalm 137 Subject(s): Grief; Jews; Sorrow; Sadness; Judaism | ||||||||
WE sate down and wept by the waters Of Babel, and thought of the day When our foe, in the hue of his slaughters, Made Salem's high places his prey; And ye, oh her desolate daughters! Were scatter'd all weeping away. While sadly we gazed on the river Which roll'd on in freedom below, They demanded the song; but, oh never That triumph the stranger shall know! May this right hand be wither'd for ever, Ere it string our high harp for the foe! On the willow that harp is suspended, Oh Salem! its sound should be free; And the hour when thy glories were ended But left me that token of thee: And ne'er shall its soft tones be blended With the voice of the spoiler by me! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE RABBI'S SON-IN-LAW by SABINE BARING-GOULD A LITTLE HISTORY by DAVID LEHMAN FOR I WILL CONSIDER YOUR DOG MOLLY by DAVID LEHMAN JEWISH GRAVEYARDS, ITALY by PHILIP LEVINE NATIONAL THOUGHTS by YEHUDA AMICHAI SOUNDS OF THE RESURRECTED DEAD MAN'S FOOTSTEPS (#3): 2. ANGEL ... by MARVIN BELL ALL IS VANITY, SAITH THE PREACHER' by GEORGE GORDON BYRON |
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