Men's Leader: King Solomon he asked the Queen of Sheba,
<The King kneels, and indicates the entire sky with one long slow
gesture.>
Bowing most politely:
"Why are the stars so high,
There in the velvet sky,
Rolling in rivers by,
Ten thousand years?"
Women's Leader: The Queen of Sheba answered like a lady,
<The Queen kneels opposite the King,
and gives the same gesture as she answers.>
Bowing most politely:
"They're singing of your kingdom to the angels,
They guide your chariot with their lamps and candles,
Therefore they burn so far—
So you can drive your car
Up where the prophets are,
Ten thousand years."
Men's Leader: King Solomon,
King Solomon.
Both Leaders: King Solomon he kept the Sabbath holy.
<The two stand, commanding the audience.>
And spoke with tongues in prophet words so mighty
<The man and woman stamp and whirl with great noise and solemnity.>
We stamped and whirled and wept and shouted:—
Congregation Rises and Joins the Song:
…. "Glory."
We were his people.
<On these two lines, man and woman stamp and whirl again,
gravely, magnificently.>
Both Leaders: You shall be wild and gay,
Green trees shall deck your way,
<On these two lines they kneel, commanding the audience.>
Sunday be every day,
Ten thousand years.
<Now they rise and bow to each other and the audience,
maintaining a certain intention of benediction.>
King Solomon,
King Solomon.
How Samson Bore Away the Gates of Gaza
(A Negro Sermon.)
Once, in a night as black as ink,
She drove him out when he would not drink.
Round the house there were men in wait
Asleep in rows by the Gaza gate.
But the Holy Spirit was in this man.
Like a gentle wind he crept and ran.
("It is midnight," said the big town clock.)