Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PSALM 137, by SIDNEY GODOLPHIN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: As by the rivers we lay down Last Line: And none shall pity their despair. | ||||||||
As by the rivers we lay down Which wash the walls of Babylon, There we our inward souls felt grief, Changing to mourning all relief, Infecting by our sad despair The flowery field, the streams, and air: As we on Syon meditate Our ruin'd country's captive state, Our instruments of melody Disused, neglected, hanging by -- Then, even then, our scornful foes, The proud inflictors of our woes, Deny us freedom of our groans And bid us swallow all our moans, Command from our hoarse voice an air Of joy in this our sad despair. Ah! can we teach our tears to flow Inwards, and hide in smiles our woe? Shall our lov'd harp and voice now be The hated marks of slavery? O Solymas, ye holy towers, Ye rivers, fields, ye shades of ours, Wither my hand, my voice be dry When I do lose your memory: When ever I one joy put on During your desolation. Thou Babylon, which now dost boast All bowels of compassion lost, Though careless when we do complain Know thou hast yet a sense for pain. Thrice happy who exacts from thee The measure of our misery: How thy swol'n rivers then will rise, When thou pay'st back unto our eyes The floods of tears which they have shed And all the streams which we have bled! Then will Euphrates purpled run With thy blood, cruel Babylon, Thy children's cries will fill the air And none shall pity their despair. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A DIALOGUE BETWEEN A LOVER AND HIS MISTRESS by SIDNEY GODOLPHIN A FAREWELL by SIDNEY GODOLPHIN ELEGIE ON D.D. by SIDNEY GODOLPHIN |
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