Classic and Contemporary Poetry
OUT OF EGYPT, by DOROTHEA DE PASS First Line: The flaming sunset bathed the distant hills Last Line: Of sin. Subject(s): Bible; Israel; Jews; Moses; Nile (river); Judaism | ||||||||
THE flaming sunset bathed the distant hills In gold, the air was chill, and darkness fell Upon the silent land. Then through the night A cry of pain rose like a wave, and fell, Again and yet again it soared aloft, But dying to be born anew; a wail Of anguish wild, of hoarse and deep despair From countless hearts, who called unto their gods With tears and sobs, with broken prayers in vain! For death attired in red, with scourge and flail Had swept through Egypt at the voice of God, And as he passed behold his steps were stained With blood. All first-born children in the land Were dead. The Pharaoh and the shepherd mourned Alike, for blood red tracks were traced from door To door; from palace garden to the home Of those who lived in pinch of utter want. Then God spake, and the voices of the crowds Were stilled: "I am the Lord. I am the Lord, My children you have treated like the dust, My chosen people you have bound with shame. You hold them, and you would not let them go, So I the Lord their God have taken all The first-born in your land ... But Israel's children have I spared to live, And death into their house hath entered not. Repent, repent, and pray you be stiff-necked And proud no more." Then ceased the voice of God. And mourning into hatred turned, the fumes Of passion smote upon their souls"Begone, Begone accursed of our sight, arise And flee, lest we be all dead men; take gold, And silver, flocks and herds, and leave us peace." So Israel fled out in the night, and came Not to that land again. And now once more A silence fell, and stars of heaven gazed Upon the stricken homes, upon the palm Trees listening to the whisper of the wind, Upon the silent Nile, upon the land Of sin. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...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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