I KINDLED my eight little candles, My Chanukah-candles—and lo! Fair visions and dreams half-forgotten To me came of years long ago. I musingly gazed at my candles; Meseemed in their quivering flames In golden, in fiery letters I read the old glorious names, The names of our heroes immortal, The noble, the brave, and the true, A battle-field saw I in vision Where many were conquered by few. Where trampled in dust lay the mighty, Judea's proud Syrian foe; And Judas, the brave Maccabæus, In front of his army I saw. His eyes shone like bright stars of heaven, Like music rang out his strong voice: "Brave comrades, we fought and we conquered, Now let us, in God's name, rejoice! "We conquered—but know, O brave comrades, No triumph is due to the sword! Remember our glorious watchword, 'For People and Towns of the Lord!' " He spoke, and from all the four corners An echo repeated each word; The woods and the mountains re-echoed: "For People and Towns of the Lord!" And swiftly the message spread, saying: "Judea, Judea is free, Re-kindled the lamp in the Temple, Re-kindled each bosom with glee!" My Chanukah-candles soon flickered, Around me was darkness of night; But deep in my soul I felt shining A heavenly-glorious light. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: WASHINGTON MCNEELY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS POETICAL ABSTRACTS: 2. METAPHYSICAL by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE EXISTING POOL by HAYDEN CARRUTH THOUGHTS OF A TINY PIG by DAVID IGNATOW JOY (1) by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON OMNIPRESENCE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON PERSPECTIVE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON ON THE PROPOSAL TO ERECT A MONUMENT IN ENGLAND TO LORD BYRON by EMMA LAZARUS |