Classic and Contemporary Poetry
IS IT TRUE?, by MARIE HARROLD GARRISON First Line: Said the child of the bright yellow hair Last Line: "like elsie'sand said: ""I'm a jew." Subject(s): Catholics; Children; History; Jesus Christ; Jews; Roman Catholics; Catholicism; Childhood; Historians; Judaism | ||||||||
SAID the child of the bright yellow hair To the child of the coal black curls; "I do not think it is fair For we little Christian girls To play with the girls like you; For our Sunday-school teacherSee? Says your father is only a Jew; An' the Jews nailed Christ on the tree." The great black eyes filled with tears As the child with the dark, dark hair Said: "But that was hundreds of years Ago; an' I don't think it is fair To blame us girls with the pain That was given to Jesus by men That we didn't know. And it's vain So my mamma says, to preten' That any one church is the best. We're as nicely behaved as you, An' our dollies as prettily dressed; An' my mamma always says true." So they quarreled and parted with eyes Flashing anger and tears. In the heart Of the yellow-haired child would rise Unbiddena pain like a dart. That night she knelt by her bed As she did every nightto pray, She threw back her wee bright head And her eyes looked up and away Oh far, far away at the sky Through the unshaded window glass; And she said: "Dear Lord, if I die In my sleep may my spirit pass To you like an angel; and wear A little gold crown of my own; Andmy dear dollI want her there, 'Cause I hate to be there all alone." Then she paused a little and said: "Lordif Elsie was only like me, A Christian, too, when she's dead I think I would like to see Her also; but she cannot go 'Cause her fore-fathersteacher said Were nothing but Jews and so That settles it." Then on the bed The bright little one sank to sleep, But a wee small voice in her breast Seemed ever to rouse her and keep Her feverish pulses from rest. She dreamed that out of the skies A great, white cross rose to view; And Jesus looked at her with eyes Like Elsie'sand said: "I'm a Jew." | 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 PEOPLE OF ZION by MARIE HARROLD GARRISON THE PRAYER OF THE HIGH PRIEST (100 YEARS B.C.E.) by MARIE HARROLD GARRISON |
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