| Joseph Friedlander, comp. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse. 1917. | | | | Akiba | | By Alter Abelson |
| | | O HEART, who art a fable, new and true; | |
| O soul, a legend strange and sweet as joy; | |
| Lover, whose love has built, not razed a Troy; | |
| Akiba, whom heaven and angels taught to woo. | |
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| Lover, and lawyer, all Israel’s sceptred mind, | 5 |
| Who luminous mists hast orbed into a sun | |
| Of Oral Law, and logic’s praises won; | |
| A shepherd’s crook you left, a wand to find. | |
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| Our blameless Lancelot of lists of lore, | |
| Who made Romance a theme for cherubim; | 10 |
| And love, God’s Song of Songs, His heavenly hymn; | |
| And law, a mine where mercy digs for ore. | |
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| God’s patriot, who heaven with life hast sought, | |
| And Holylands in Holyland hast known; | |
| Thou art a part of heaven, thou hast shown, | 15 |
| Thou art a part of “Torah” thou hast taught. | |
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| What wonder you have traversed Paradise, | |
| It was your gentle spirit’s element; | |
| What wealth to heaven, what penury hell, you sent; | |
| Courage and wisdom hailed you brave and wise. | 20 |
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| And virtue named you saint, and greatness, great; | |
| Patriotism, patriot; and knowledge, sage. | |
| And love, a lover; your heart, its golden page. | |
| And holiness rejoiced to own you, mate. | |
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| What, though the foe your frame with fires shod? | 25 |
| What, though he drained the wine-vats of your veins? | |
| He only precious made like gems, your pains; | |
| Aye, kissed by God, your feet on crowns have trod. | | | | |
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