LO! I recall the siege which fell on me: Within this month He struck me; He destroyed With three blows;—cut me down and left me void;— Now He hath made me weary utterly. He silenced on the eighth day all my throng; (Have I not for three things a fast proclaimed?) The King bade; write the law in Greek; they maimed, They ploughed on me; they made their furrows long. Upon the ninth day—wrath, disgrace, and shame! Stripped off was my fair robe in honor worn; For he who gave sweet words was surely torn: Ezra the scribe—yea, he of blessed name. The tenth day; then the seer was bidden: "Yea Write thee within the book of vision; write This for remembrance; now shalt thou indite For them despised and crushed this self-same day." Counting the months, within the tenth the woe And wail he wakened; but the sorrow's smart— Its onward way was branded on my heart When one came saying: "The city is struck low." For these things I have scattered o'er me dust; O that a shaft had pierced mine heart that day! For such woe I would dig my grave;—but nay, I wrought rebelliously: the Lord is just. I call Thee, Thou Who hast repentance nigh For mine affliction; lo! my praying heed; Hear my beseeching; my salvation speed; Hide Thee not at my sighing, at my cry. O moon of Tebeth! exceeding is my sum Of pain therein, when His face changed for me. Yet, though I sinned, His goodness I shall see, Who saith: "Ye waves, but so far shall ye come." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NATURAL HISTORY by MOTHER GOOSE ON CHLORIS WALKING IN THE SNOW by WILLIAM STRODE THE WORLD'S WAY by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH CONFLICT AND PEACE by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS EPITAPH ON NOISY POLEMIC (BURNS'S 'BLETH'RIN BITCH') by ROBERT BURNS THE MEETING by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR TO LORD THURLOW by GEORGE GORDON BYRON |