Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE OLD JEW, by MAXWELL BODENHEIM



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE OLD JEW, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: No fawn-tinged hospital pajamas
Last Line: They dwindled while he soared.
Subject(s): Jews; Revolutions; Judaism


No fawn-tinged hospital pajamas could cheat him
of his austerity
Which tamed even the doctors with its pure fire.
They examined him; made him bow to them:
Massive altars were they, at whose swollen feet
grovelled a worshiper.
Then they laughed, half in scorn of him; and there
came a miracle:
The little man was above them at a bound.
His austerity, like an irresistible sledge-hammer,
drove them lower and lower:
They dwindled while he soared.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...



Home: PoetryExplorer.net