Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AWAKENING, by JESSIE E. SAMPTER



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AWAKENING, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Where wait the soldiers of the lord
Last Line: From scabbard's rust!
Subject(s): Israel; Jews; Zionism; Judaism


WHERE wait the soldiers of the Lord
That smote in olden days?
Where stands in song his shining horde
That chant and shout his praise?
They long are laid with flame and sword,
Their corpses strew the ways.

A hundred gods of brass and gold
Sit high with icy hands,
And those that praised his name of old
Lie slain in many lands!
Their bones arise and join: Behold,
The host of Israel stands!

Does Israel's heart such silence keep,
It seems a stony crust,
And covered with the dust?
No, 'tis a dragon fast asleep,
An ancient sword to flash and leap
From scabbard's rust!





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