Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BY THE RIVERS OF BABYLON WE SAT DOWN AND WEPT, by GEORGE GORDON BYRON


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BY THE RIVERS OF BABYLON WE SAT DOWN AND WEPT, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: We sat down and wept by the waters
Last Line: With the voice of the spoiler by me!
Alternate Author Name(s): Byron, Lord; Byron, 6th Baron
Variant Title(s): Psalm 137
Subject(s): Grief; Jews; Sorrow; Sadness; Judaism


WE sate down and wept by the waters
Of Babel, and thought of the day
When our foe, in the hue of his slaughters,
Made Salem's high places his prey;
And ye, oh her desolate daughters!
Were scatter'd all weeping away.

While sadly we gazed on the river
Which roll'd on in freedom below,
They demanded the song; but, oh never
That triumph the stranger shall know!
May this right hand be wither'd for ever,
Ere it string our high harp for the foe!

On the willow that harp is suspended,
Oh Salem! its sound should be free;
And the hour when thy glories were ended
But left me that token of thee:
And ne'er shall its soft tones be blended
With the voice of the spoiler by me!





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