Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE GREAT LAMENT; FOR THE RABBIS by ANONYMOUS

First Line: "THE COLUMNS OF CAESAREA RAN WITH TEARS, ROOF GUTTERS RAN WITH BLOOD, STARS"
Last Line: THE PALMS WERE LADEN WITH THORNS
Subject(s): JEWS;MYSTICISM - JUDAISM; JUDAISM;

The columns of Caesarea ran with tears, roof gutters ran with blood, stars were
visible in the daytime
All cedars were uprooted
All trees were uprooted
Fiery stones fell from heaven
All images were effaced and were used as stone pillars
All statues of humans were torn out of position
Seventy houses were broken into by thieves at Tiberias
Hail stones fell from heaven
The rocks of the Euphrates kissed each other
The rocks of the Tigris kissed each other
The palms were laden with thorns


Used with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P.O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA
98368-0271, www.cc.press.org



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