The later poems of John Clare 1837-1864 ... General editor Eric Robinson: Edited by Eric Robinson and David Powell: Associate editor Margaret Grainger |
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SONG OF DEBORAH |
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 | The later poems of John Clare |  |
SONG OF DEBORAH
In The War Days Of Shamgar Of Anath & Jael
When The High Ways Were Leveled & Hamlets Laid Low
& Every Heart Seemed In Its Courage To Fail
& Sought Out The Bye Ways In Fear Of The Foe
When The High Ways Were Leveled & Hamlets Laid Low
& Every Heart Seemed In Its Courage To Fail
& Sought Out The Bye Ways In Fear Of The Foe
The Inhabitants Ceased In Each Village To Dwell
Desolation Drove Comfort From Mountain & Plain
Till I Even Deborah Rose To Foretell
That God Would Unite With His Chosen Again
Desolation Drove Comfort From Mountain & Plain
Till I Even Deborah Rose To Foretell
That God Would Unite With His Chosen Again
110
They Chose Them New Gods With Presumption Elate
Forty Thousand In Israel Without Shield Or Spear
Their False Hearted Foemen Hurled War At The Gates
& The Gods Of Their Choice Were Unable To Hear
Forty Thousand In Israel Without Shield Or Spear
Their False Hearted Foemen Hurled War At The Gates
& The Gods Of Their Choice Were Unable To Hear
With The Rulers Of Israel My Heart Would Agree
Who Offered To Serve In The Troops Of The Lord
& Joined With The People To Fall Or Be Free
They Blessed The True God & Met Truth In His Word
Who Offered To Serve In The Troops Of The Lord
& Joined With The People To Fall Or Be Free
They Blessed The True God & Met Truth In His Word
Bless Ye The Lord Who Brought Comfort & Peace
Speak Ye That Ride On White Asses & Say
How The God Of Our Sires Brought His People Release
Yet Sit Down in Judgement To Show The Right Way
Speak Ye That Ride On White Asses & Say
How The God Of Our Sires Brought His People Release
Yet Sit Down in Judgement To Show The Right Way
Now They're Delivered From Archers & War
At The Wells Where The Joyous Draw Water & sing
Where Fear Heard The Noise Of The Archers Afar
& Death Often Crimsoned The Clear Flowing Spring
At The Wells Where The Joyous Draw Water & sing
Where Fear Heard The Noise Of The Archers Afar
& Death Often Crimsoned The Clear Flowing Spring
There Shall They Sing In The Praise Of The Lord
There Shall They Herd & Draw Water In Peace
Each Village Agen Shall Its Comforts Afford
& War In The Valleys Of Israel Shall Cease
There Shall They Herd & Draw Water In Peace
Each Village Agen Shall Its Comforts Afford
& War In The Valleys Of Israel Shall Cease
The People Of God Shall Go down To The Gate
Awake Awake Deborah Waken & Sing
Lead Captivity Captive Thou Barak Too Great
Is Israel For Chuseing The Lord For Their King
Awake Awake Deborah Waken & Sing
Lead Captivity Captive Thou Barak Too Great
Is Israel For Chuseing The Lord For Their King
Then Him That Remaineth right constant & true
He Made Have Dominion Oer Nobles & peers
The Lord He Made Me Have dominion & Shew
To Govern the Mighty nor hearken to Fears
He Made Have Dominion Oer Nobles & peers
The Lord He Made Me Have dominion & Shew
To Govern the Mighty nor hearken to Fears
111
Out Of Ephraim was there even a root
Went out against Amalek faceing the foe
After Benjamin Thou That wert swifter of foot
& Thy People to join were not tardy Or slow
Went out against Amalek faceing the foe
After Benjamin Thou That wert swifter of foot
& Thy People to join were not tardy Or slow
Out of Machir Came Governers ready to Serve
Out of Zebulun they that could handle the Pen
The princes of Issacah They That Deserve
The protection of God & the praises of men
Out of Zebulun they that could handle the Pen
The princes of Issacah They That Deserve
The protection of God & the praises of men
Barak went down To The valley on foot
While Deborah led forward & cheared on the fray
But for Reuben's divisions the soldiers was smote
There was great thought of heart on that terrible day
While Deborah led forward & cheared on the fray
But for Reuben's divisions the soldiers was smote
There was great thought of heart on that terrible day
Why abide in the sheepfold to hear the flocks bleat
For Reubens divisions looks searched in the heart
None breathed a word or a wish to retreat
Would Israel from God in her troubles depart
For Reubens divisions looks searched in the heart
None breathed a word or a wish to retreat
Would Israel from God in her troubles depart
Gilead abode beyond Jordan away
Why did Dan in his ships on the ocean retire
On the seashore there Asher continued to stay
& abode in his breeches
Why did Dan in his ships on the ocean retire
On the seashore there Asher continued to stay
& abode in his breeches
But Zebulim Naphtali people of might
They jeoperded life unto Death on that day
In all the high places & field of the fight
They fought like the tiger devouring the prey
They jeoperded life unto Death on that day
In all the high places & field of the fight
They fought like the tiger devouring the prey
The Kings came & fought in the strength of his word
Kings of Canaan in Taanach arose like the sun
They took gain nor money in wars of the Lord
By the waters [of] Megiddo battled & won
Kings of Canaan in Taanach arose like the sun
They took gain nor money in wars of the Lord
By the waters [of] Megiddo battled & won
112
Heaven fought in the cause whom the wicked disdain
The stars in their courses—the water & flood
All fought against Sisera—tempest & rain
& God drowned His anger in slaughter & blood
The stars in their courses—the water & flood
All fought against Sisera—tempest & rain
& God drowned His anger in slaughter & blood
The old stream of Kishon it swept them away
That ancient of streams all its banks overflowed
O my soul thou hast trodden down strength on that day
For the strongest hearts quail in the strength of the Lord
That ancient of streams all its banks overflowed
O my soul thou hast trodden down strength on that day
For the strongest hearts quail in the strength of the Lord
The horse hoofs were broken with pranceing & maimed
The pranceings of mighty ones foiled in their toils
Their strength was exhausted their swiftness was lamed
& the Lord oer his people in victory smiles
The pranceings of mighty ones foiled in their toils
Their strength was exhausted their swiftness was lamed
& the Lord oer his people in victory smiles
Then the Angel of God in his vengance & ire
Uttered curses on Meroz & dwellers therein
Curse Meroz he said in a language of fire
Curse ye bitterly Meroz because of their sin
Uttered curses on Meroz & dwellers therein
Curse Meroz he said in a language of fire
Curse ye bitterly Meroz because of their sin
They fought not nor came to the help of the Lord
Where numbers & strength would his people oppose
To the Lord they would aid or assistance afford
When the pride of the mighty came down as their foes
Where numbers & strength would his people oppose
To the Lord they would aid or assistance afford
When the pride of the mighty came down as their foes
But blessed be Jael & the kindred of Jael
Wife of Heber the Kenite whose courage was true
For blest above women—her heart did not fail
When the foe of the [OMITTED] lay [OMITTED]
Wife of Heber the Kenite whose courage was true
For blest above women—her heart did not fail
When the foe of the [OMITTED] lay [OMITTED]
He asked for water—she offered him milk
& brought him forth butter & bade him to eat
Sleep fell oer his weariness softer then silk
& eden seemed spreading her rest at his feet
& brought him forth butter & bade him to eat
Sleep fell oer his weariness softer then silk
& eden seemed spreading her rest at his feet
113
But her hand she put forth to the hammer & nail
& pierced the proud head of her foe to the earth
At Her feet he bowed down & in death he turned pale
& lay like a shade without being or breath
& pierced the proud head of her foe to the earth
At Her feet he bowed down & in death he turned pale
& lay like a shade without being or breath
The Mother of Sisera looked from her tower
& cried through the lattice ‘Where, where can he stay
Why tarry the wheels of his chariots & power
Have they not sped & divided the prey
& cried through the lattice ‘Where, where can he stay
Why tarry the wheels of his chariots & power
Have they not sped & divided the prey
Her wise Ladies answered her eagerness—yea
She answered herself in the heaves of her heart
Have they not sped & divided the prey
To each man of spoils & of maidens a part
She answered herself in the heaves of her heart
Have they not sped & divided the prey
To each man of spoils & of maidens a part
A prey of rich needlework took in the spoils
To Sisera the chief of the army—my son
A prey of rich colours rewarding the toils
& meet for the necks of the victors who won
To Sisera the chief of the army—my son
A prey of rich colours rewarding the toils
& meet for the necks of the victors who won
Let all that love God be as bright as the sun
In the might of the morn & in goodness accord
Forty years the land rested when freedom was won—
So let all thine enemies perish O Lord
In the might of the morn & in goodness accord
Forty years the land rested when freedom was won—
So let all thine enemies perish O Lord
| The later poems of John Clare | |