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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SABBATH LAMP, by GRACE AGUILAR Poet Analysis First Line: Shine, sabbath lamp, oh shine with tender ray! Last Line: And light our souls to find the road to heaven. Subject(s): Faith; Jews; Sabbath; Belief; Creed; Judaism; Sunday | |||
SHINE, Sabbath Lamp, oh shine with tender ray! Pierce the soft wavelets of the fading light; Speed the faint footsteps of the waning day, And greet the shadows of the coming night. Cast thy rays upward,cleave the darkening air, And lift a stream of brilliant light on high; Shine on the wings of Faith, and may they bear The wavering wandering heart from earth to sky! Fling thy beams forward,may their radiance meet The welcome presence of the heaven-sent guest; Illume the path she treads with glistening feet; The Sabbath Bride of Israel's panting breast! Cast thy gleams backwardSix days' toils are told; Soothe with thy smile the wearied breast and brain; And may thy glittering lustre change to gold Each seventh link in life's dull iron chain. Shed thy rays downwardmay their sacred ray On life's rough road of earthly travel shine; And strew the crags that fret the rugged way With sparkling gems which breathe a light divine! Cast thy beams inwardmay they pierce the fold That each one gathers round his secret breast; Shew forth the idol in its godless mould, That we may crush it in our bosom's nest! Shed thy rays outward,lest at last we grow, Centered in selfand life's best purpose mock; And dwell, unmindful of a brother's woe, Like callous limpet on the weed-bound rock. Cast thy beams homewardmay they sweetly bear The smiles of household peace where'er they shine; Test of an earthly mother's tender care, Type of the heavenly Father's love divine. Shine near and farin every Jewish home In every climeon every distant shore, Where in the stranger land the loved ones roam: Oh! let us greet them in thy gleams once more! Ah, shine afar! and may thy waves of light Bring near the absent dear ones far away, Show us our loved ones in our dreams to-nigh Our dead who rest in Heaven's bright Sabbath day! For Faith, like Light, sheds beams on every side; Faith shares with Light its radiating power, Then shine, oh Lamp! and greet the Sabbath bride, And shine, oh Faith! and bless the Sabbath hour. Shine on the Pastand, as the raindrops gleam With rainbow tints where'er the sunbeams rest, So may our tears grow bright beneath thy beam, And every grief be sanctified and blest. Shine on the Presentmay thy beacon-light Beam on life's sea where mists and tempests reign; And may its radiance guide our course aright, And fling its silvery track across the main. Shine on the Futurelead these hearts of ours Far beyond home and clime and native strand, Light up the Eastgleam on yon ruined towers; And rend the gloom that veils our long-lost land. Shine Sabbath Lamp, with ray of heavenly birth, Emblem of Faith and Hope in Mercy given; Gleam on the rude, dark path we tread on earth, And light our souls to find the road to Heaven. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DAT GAL O' MINE by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON SUNDAY: NEW GUINEA by KARL SHAPIRO SABBATHS: 2001 by WENDELL BERRY SUNDAYSUNDAYSUNDAYSUNDAYSUNDAY by PAUL BLACKBURN THE SABBATH OF THE SOUL by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD SABBATH THOUGHTS by GRACE AGUILAR |
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