Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ISRAEL AND COLUMBIA, by JOHN MCCABE First Line: O glory of an elder age! Last Line: As herald of the new world's morn. Subject(s): Exiles; Hebrew Language; Jews; Right To Asylum; Judaism | ||||||||
O GLORY of an elder age! O wonder of time's later days! Foremost for aye as priest and sage, Ne'er absent from broad history's ways, Let us not fail on thee to place Some share of our Columbian crown, For one of all thy favored race Sailed with that fleet from Palos town. Prophetic dreams of worlds behind The secret of the sundown seas, Slept deep in science heart-confined From Maneth on to Genoese. Well said Isaiah, seer sublime, "Surely the isles shall wait for thee, And ships of Tarshish bide the time When Hebrews face the western sea." The gates of unknown worlds were sealed While progress waits the Jewish hand, And David's earth possessing shield, To lead her to the Promised Land. Herculean Pillars vainly rear Their frowning ne-plus-ultra bound In paths where fiery pillars steer The conquest of the planet round. Spain drove thee forth from mart and school, Princes of commerce, thought, and verse, Thine angel led to broader rule In lands which laugh at Europe's curse. We hear Jah's voice through all thy course, "More yet beyond, for thou art mine," And with thee dwells the secret force That makes the march of man divine. For thou art HebrewAbram's seed The child of him God called His friend, And son of Whom the nations read, "Thy kingdom hath not bound nor end." Yes, Hebrew, man from realms beyond, Upreared to lead hope's splendid quest, Instinct with powers by ages crowned, Restless, thou guidest man to rest. So Israel's world-wide moving sons, We hail you at each opening gate, Through which your flaming promise runs, While Jacob's star leads on our fate. And more than admiral or crew, Whose memory nations now adorn, We hail that nameless sailor Jew As herald of the New World's morn. | 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 TO MAY HOWARD JACKSON - SCULPTOR by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON |
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