Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE NEW EZEKIEL, by EMMA LAZARUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE NEW EZEKIEL, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: What, can these dead bones live, whose sap is dried
Last Line: And I shall place you living in your land.
Subject(s): Death; Jews; Prophecy & Prophets; Dead, The; Judaism


WHAT, can these dead bones live, whose sap is dried
By twenty scorching centuries of wrong?
Is this the House of Israel, whose pride
Is as a tale that's told, an ancient song?
Are these ignoble relics all that live
Of psalmist, priest, and prophet? Can the breath
Of very heaven bid these bones revive,
Open the graves and clothe the ribs of death?

Yea, Prophesy, the Lord hath said. Again
Say to the wind, Come forth and breathe afresh,
Even that they may live upon these slain,
And bone to bone shall leap, and flesh to flesh.
The Spirit is not dead, proclaim the word,
Where lay dead bones, a host of armed men stand!
I ope your graves, my people, saith the Lord,
And I shall place you living in your land.





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