Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BROTHERLY LOVE, by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH Poet's Biography First Line: The rabbi judah, so the scribes relate Last Line: "loveth his brother as he loves himself." Subject(s): Clergy; Jews; Love; Priests; Rabbis; Ministers; Bishops; Judaism | ||||||||
THE Rabbi Judah, so the scribes relate, Sat with his brethren once in a warm debate About those things which each considered best To bring to earth immunity and rest. Then said the one requested to begin: "Rest comes from wealth, if there be peace within." The second said: "It springs from honest fame, And having all men magnify your name." The third said: "Rest is being truly great, Coupled with power to rule some mighty state." The fourth said: "Such a rest as we presage Reach men in only the extremest age, When wealth and power and fame unite to go To childrenand unto their children flow." The fifth said: "All these various things are vain; Rest comes to those who all the law maintain." Then said the Rabbi Judah, grave and old, The tallest of the group with him enrolled: "You all speak wisely, but no rest is deep To him who the traditions fails to keep." Now spoke a fairhaired boy up from the grass A boy of twelve, who heard these words repass, And dropped the lilies from his slender hands; "Nay, father; none among you understands. True rest he only finds who evermore Looks not behind, but to the things before; Who, scorning fame and power and home and pelf, Loveth his brother as he loves himself." | Other Poems of Interest...VENETIAN INTERIOR, 1889 by RICHARD HOWARD THE RABBI'S SON-IN-LAW by SABINE BARING-GOULD A LITTLE HISTORY by DAVID LEHMAN FOR I WILL CONSIDER YOUR DOG MOLLY by DAVID LEHMAN JEWISH GRAVEYARDS, ITALY by PHILIP LEVINE NATIONAL THOUGHTS by YEHUDA AMICHAI SOUNDS OF THE RESURRECTED DEAD MAN'S FOOTSTEPS (#3): 2. ANGEL ... by MARVIN BELL |
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