Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MONTEFIORE, by MIRIAM DEL BANCO


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MONTEFIORE, by                    
First Line: Somewhere I have seen the picture
Last Line: Blessed be thou for montefiore!
Subject(s): Montefiore, Moses Haim (1784-1885)


Somewhere I have seen the picture —
Seen it, maybe, in a dream —
Groups of radiant angels soaring
Upward in the sunshine's gleam;
Watched as through the gates of heaven
In their arms a form they bore;
And a thousand angel voices
Sang the name of Montefiore!

Somewhere I have caught the echo,
Drifting on till time shall end —
Caught the sound of grief and mourning;
For the poor have lost their friend!
Silent is the voice that pleaded,
Motionless the hand that gave,
And the voice that loved and pitied
Stilled and pulseless in the grave.

Softly rest his soul in slumber —
He was weary, he was lone;
Long ago his household angel
Flitted off to heaven's throne,
Weep no tear, nor bow in sorrow,
Praise the God we all adore,
For He crowned the earth with blessing
When He gave it Montefiore.

Who can carve a fitting marble?
Who can sing a song so grand
That all men shall know his virtues —
Sound his praise from land to land?
All his life is one great anthem,
Is a monument divine,
Where the flowers of blessed mem'ry
And of love their tendrils twine.

Not with sword or pen or palette
Has the world declared him great;
They too serve who help the stricken —
They "who only stand and wait;"
And they paint unfading pictures,
And they sing immortal songs,
Who defend a weaker brother —
Dry his tears and right his wrongs.

Life, with him, was like a fabric
Of the richest hues combined,
Where his faith was interwoven
With his love for all mankind,
Ah, how many years will vanish
Ere in Israel's ranks once more
Will arise a man of mercy
Like to Moses Montefiore!

Filled — yes, filled to overflowing
Was the measure of his days;
God did surely bid the angels
Guard his footsteps — smooth his ways;
And the mem-ry of his virtues
Lingers now, when life is done,
Like the glowing tints of heaven
At the setting of the sun.

God of Israel! May his pleadings
For all mankind at Thy throne
Meet the grace that his petitions
Here on earth have ever known!
When we think of him, we thank Thee —
Sing Thy praises o'er and o'er!
Thou hast given —Thou has taken —
Blessed be Thou for Montefiore!





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