Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ZIONIST MARCHING SONG, by NAPHTALI HERZ IMBER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ZIONIST MARCHING SONG, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Like the crash of the thunder
Last Line: In jordan now set we our watch.
Alternate Author Name(s): Imber, Naftali Herts
Subject(s): Israel; Jews; Zionism; Judaism


I

LIKE the crash of the thunder
Which splitteth asunder
The flame of the cloud,
On our ears ever falling,
A voice is heard calling
From Zion aloud:
"Let your spirits' desires
For the land of your sires
Eternally burn.
From the foe to deliver
Our own holy river,
To Jordan return."
Where the soft, flowing stream
Murmurs low as in dream,
There set we our watch.
Our watchword "The sword
Of our land and our Lord—"
By Jordan there set we our watch.

II

Rest in peace, loved land,
For we rest not but stand,
Off shaken our sloth.
When the bolts of war rattle
To shirk not the battle,
We make thee our oath,
As we hope for a Heaven,
Thy chains shall be riven,
Thine ensign unfurled.
And in pride of our race
We will fearlessly face
The might of the world.
When our trumpet is blown
And our standard is flown,
Then set we our watch.
Our watchword, "The sword
Of our land and our Lord—"
By Jordan then set we our watch.

III

Yea, as long as there be
Birds in air, fish in sea,
And blood in our veins;
And the lions in might,
Leaping down from the height,
Shake, roaring, their manes;
And the dew nightly laves
The forgotten old graves
Where Judah's sires sleep,
We swear, who are living,
To rest not in striving,
To pause not to weep;
Let the trumpet be blown,
Let the standard be flown,
Now set we our watch.
Our watchword, "The sword
Of our land and our Lord—"
In Jordan now set we our watch.





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