 | Poems : medley and Palestina |  |
The Spoiler.
I bring destruction—hear, O land!—
I bring destruction on your race,
Because ye turn away the face,
Because ye scoff at my command.
I bring destruction on your race,
Because ye turn away the face,
Because ye scoff at my command.
What care I for your honeyed cane,
Your smoke of Sheba's frankincense?
Go, take your sacrifices hence!
Your loaded altars burn in vain.
Your smoke of Sheba's frankincense?
Go, take your sacrifices hence!
Your loaded altars burn in vain.
Behold, I lay a stumbling stone
Before you; all shall perish, all;
The fathers and the sons shall fall;
The friend, the comrade; every one.
Before you; all shall perish, all;
The fathers and the sons shall fall;
The friend, the comrade; every one.
A people hastens from afar
To desolate your might and mirth;
It journeys from the sides of earth
To seek and overtake and mar.
To desolate your might and mirth;
It journeys from the sides of earth
To seek and overtake and mar.
Their hearts are merciless to slay;
They clamor like the ocean storm;
They brandish bow and lance; they swarm
On horses ranked in war array.
They clamor like the ocean storm;
They brandish bow and lance; they swarm
On horses ranked in war array.
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Be fearful; hold within the gate;
Avoid the harvests of your field;
They hide the foeman's sword and shield;
On every side the slayers wait.
Avoid the harvests of your field;
They hide the foeman's sword and shield;
On every side the slayers wait.
O daughter of my people, cry!
Cry out with ashes on your head,
Like one bewailing o'er the dead,
For lo, the spoiler draweth nigh!
Cry out with ashes on your head,
Like one bewailing o'er the dead,
For lo, the spoiler draweth nigh!
| Poems : medley and Palestina | |