She looks at me nor speaks.
Her arms are raised; she seeks
Her fettered hands to show.
On both white wrists a chain!—
She cries and pleads in pain:
“Unbind me!—Let me go!”
I burn with bitter ire,
I leap in wild desire
The cruel bonds to break;
But God! around the chain
Is coiled and coiled again
A long and loathsome snake.
I shout, I cry, I chide;
My voice goes far and wide,
A ringing call to men:
“Oh come, let in the light!
Arise! Ye have the might!
Set Freedom free again!”
They sleep. But I strive on.
They sleep!... Can’st wake a stone?...
That one might stir! but one!
Call I, or hold my peace,
None comes to her release;
And hope for her is none.
But who may see her plight
And not go mad outright!...
“Now: up! For Freedom’s sake!”
I spring to take her part:—
“Fool!” cries a voice. I start...
In anguish I awake.
[A Tree in the Ghetto]
There stands in th’ leafless Ghetto
One spare-leaved, ancient tree;
Above the Ghetto noises
It moans eternally.
In wonderment it muses,
And murmurs with a sigh:
“Alas! how God-forsaken
And desolate am I!
“Alas, the stony alleys,
And noises loud and bold!
Where are ye, birds of summer?
Where are ye, woods of old?
“And where, ye breezes balmy
That wandered vagrant here?
And where, oh sweep of heavens
So deep and blue and clear?