 | Collected poems of Edwin Arlington Robinson |  |
YOUNG GIDEON
(Judges, 6)
Young Gideon would have threshed his father's wheat
With no more words, and as obediently
As other sons were toiling in Manasseh,
Where toil was tribute and a vanity.
With no more words, and as obediently
As other sons were toiling in Manasseh,
Where toil was tribute and a vanity.
Another day would be another day
For Gideon now; and round him everywhere,
Whether he toiled or slept, there would be always
Eyes watching, and a presence of despair.
For Gideon now; and round him everywhere,
Whether he toiled or slept, there would be always
Eyes watching, and a presence of despair.
There were too many presences with eyes,
Invisible and alert; they were like fire,
Piercing his heart and brain, till anger made him
A slave without ambition or desire.
Invisible and alert; they were like fire,
1208
A slave without ambition or desire.
Why toil so long to feed a Midian mouth,
With shame his only wages? Why not make
Jehovah's wrath aware of one who feared him
Less than he feared dishonor for his sake?
With shame his only wages? Why not make
Jehovah's wrath aware of one who feared him
Less than he feared dishonor for his sake?
If this was life, why not be done with life?
The means at hand was his, and his the choice.
So Gideon waited for the word within him,
Hearing it not. He heard instead the Voice.
The means at hand was his, and his the choice.
So Gideon waited for the word within him,
Hearing it not. He heard instead the Voice.
The least of a small house in a poor land
Until today, he shook, and feared to raise
His eyes to see the common things around him
That looked as far off as old yesterdays.
Until today, he shook, and feared to raise
His eyes to see the common things around him
That looked as far off as old yesterdays.
He knew, and still he feared—as prisoners fear
The weariness of waking. Yet he knew;
He knew that his one doubt was a thing dying
Before it should be born. It was all true.
The weariness of waking. Yet he knew;
He knew that his one doubt was a thing dying
Before it should be born. It was all true.
God found him young, and in his youth had found
Faith to mock knowledge, knowledge to mock fear.
Why then was he afraid if he feared nothing?
God knew his Gideons, and the way was clear.
Faith to mock knowledge, knowledge to mock fear.
Why then was he afraid if he feared nothing?
God knew his Gideons, and the way was clear.
He would have danced and sang there where he was,
With Israel pitying him, for all he cared.
Meanwhile he pitied Israel for not knowing
How many were soon to perish, or be spared.
With Israel pitying him, for all he cared.
Meanwhile he pitied Israel for not knowing
How many were soon to perish, or be spared.
Now that he knew the man that in himself
Had been a stranger, freedom, like a bell,
Sang through him; and he knew that while he trembled
His fear was only joy for Israel.
Had been a stranger, freedom, like a bell,
1209
His fear was only joy for Israel.
He trembled while he felt the Midian yoke
Releasing him; and there was in release
No fear, until a second morning found him
Fearing to find the dew upon the fleece.
Releasing him; and there was in release
No fear, until a second morning found him
Fearing to find the dew upon the fleece.
| Collected poems of Edwin Arlington Robinson | |