Henry Cohen. "Couldst thou have lived to share with us this hour." Friedlander, Joseph, comp. 1917. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse

Joseph Friedlander, comp. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse. 1917.

“Couldst thou have lived to share with us this hour”

By Henry Cohen


COULDST thou have lived to share with us this hour
Of grateful praise,
When minds of men are turned towards the far
Columbus days,
Then would thy lyre spell out thy wond’rous thoughts	5
In sweetest strain.
Thy soul would sing to us a touching song
Of fitful Spain;
Of monarchs that thrust forth a helpless band
Into the night;	10
Of monarchs that bade speed to him who found
This land of light.
Ah! now we miss thee. More and more to-day
We wish thee here,
Thy words are lacking, and the many moods	15
That brought us cheer.
Where are the bright inspiring tones of love
That gave us rest;
And taught us by their ever-charméd lines
That thou wert blest?	20
. . . . . . . Gone! Gone! ’Tis true, but not without their good
In lustre shed,
Through hearts whose flames were kindled by the light
Of one since dead.