PALLID white the moonlight gloweth Through the shadows weird and dim; Mournfully the river floweth Past the cedars gaunt and grim. Soft across the twilight bar, In the rosy light afar, Like a gem of antique splendor, Gleams the mystic Eastern star. Once o'er Judah's hill of purple Shone the star like living flame; Through her valleys, green and fertile, Came the echo of His name. In those years so long agone -- In religion's blessed dawn, On my head the black curse falleth -- "Ever -- evermore move on." Eighteen hundred years I've wandered, -- And my eyes are dimmed with tears, -- Seeking death where storms have thundered, With a heart unknown to fears. Years may come and years may go In their vast eternal flow, But upon my vague, wild wanderings Still my weary feet must go. Shiveringly the night wind waileth Sibilant dirges of my doom, And the gold of evening paleth -- Fadeth into deeper gloom. 'Neath the star I kneel and cry, "Mercy, mercy, Thou on high! Thou whose heart is filled with pity, List to my despairing cry!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE DORCHESTER GIANT by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 28. THE WELSH MARCHES by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN CONTINENT'S END by ROBINSON JEFFERS SUMMER DAWN by WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896) TO SPAIN - A LAST WORD by EDITH MATILDA THOMAS THE BOSPHORUS REVISITED by SEYMOUR GREEN WHEELER BENJAMIN BRITANNIA'S PASTORALS: BOOK 1. THE FIFTH SONG by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |