There in bygone days and olden,
From a wond’rous harp and golden
Charmed he music spirit-haunting,
Holy, chaste and soul-enchanting.
Never with the ancient sweetness,
Never in its old completeness
Shall it sound: his dream is ended,
On a willow-bough suspended.
Gone that dream so fair and fleeting!
Yet behold: thou dreamst anew!
Hark! a new May gives thee greeting
From afar. Dost hear it, Jew?
Weep no more, altho’ with sorrows
Bow’d e’en to the grave: I see
Happier years and brighter morrows,
Dawning, Israel, for thee!
Hear’st thou not the promise ring
Where, like doves on silver wing,
Thronging cherubs sweetly sing
Newmade songs of what shall be?
Hark! your olives shall be shaken,
And your citrons and your limes
Filled with fragrance. God shall waken.
Lead you as in olden times.
In the pastures by the river
Ye once more your flocks shall tend.
Ye shall live, and live forever
Happy lives that know no end.
No more wandering, no more sadness:
Peace shall be your lot, and still
Hero hearts shall throb with gladness
’Neath Moriah’s silent hill.
Nevermore of dread afflictions
Or oppression need ye tell:
Filled with joy and benedictions
In the old home shall ye dwell.
To the fatherland returning,
Following the homeward path,
Ye shall find the embers burning
Still upon the ruined hearth!
[The Feast Of Lights]
Little candles glistening,
Telling those are listening
Legends manifold,
Many a little story,
Tales of blood and glory
Of the days of old.
As I watch you flicker,
As I list you bicker,
Speak the ancient dreams:
—You have battled, Jew, one time,
You have conquer’d too, one time.
(God, how strange it seems!)
In your midst was order once,
And within your border once
Strangers took no part.
Jew, you had a land one time,
And an armèd hand, one time.
(How it moves the heart!)
Glisten, candles, glisten!
As I stand and listen
All the grief in me,
All the woe is stirred again,
And the question heard again:
What the end shall be?
[Chanukah Thoughts]
Not always as you see us now,
Have we been used to weep and sigh,
We too have grasped the sword, I trow,
And seen astonished foemen fly!