Classic and Contemporary Poetry
WHAT RABBI JEHOSHA SAID, by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Rabbi jehosha used to say Last Line: Said all the host of heaven could say. Subject(s): Heaven; Jews; Paradise; Judaism | ||||||||
RABBI JEHOSHA used to say That God made angels every day, Perfect as Michael and the rest First brooded in creation's nest, Whose only office was to cry Hosanna! once, and then to die; Or rather, with Life's essence blent, To be led home from banishment. Rabbi Jehosha had the skill To know that Heaven is in God's will; And doing that, though for a space One heart-beat long, may win a grace As full of grandeur and of glow As Princes of the Chariot know. 'T were glorious, no doubt, to be One of the strong-winged Hierarchy, To burn with Seraphs, or to shine With Cherubs, deathlessly divine; Yet I, perhaps, poor earthly clod, Could I forget myself in God, Could I but find my nature's clew Simply as birds and blossoms do, And but for one rapt moment know 'T is Heaven must come, not we must go, Should win my place as near the throne As the pearl-angel of its zone, And God would listen mid the throng For my one breath of perfect song, That, in its simple human way, Said all the Host of Heaven could say. | 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 AFTER THE BURIAL by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL |
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