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Home  »  The Standard Book of Jewish Verse  »  “Above the grief of Israel soars a voice”

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

By Ida Goldsmith Morris

“Above the grief of Israel soars a voice”

(“God’s finger touched him and he slept!”)

ABOVE the grief of Israel soars a voice

Rebuking him who weeps;

Bidding the righteous for his sake rejoice,

Who, clothed with honor, sleeps.

The victor, bearing home unsullied spoil,

The leader, whom God led,

Sleeps ’neath the laurels of completed toil,

That crowns his hoary head.

As Moses, through the wilderness of old,

His people led aright,

So he, from worn-out creeds and forms grown cold,

Led on to warmth and light.

And as old shackles fell from Israel’s feet,

And broader visions rose,

He rested not, until life’s task complete

Had earned Death’s sweet repose.

The tired hands upon his breast are crossed,

The noble heart is stilled!

Yet think not that God’s promise shall be lost

Which he so long fulfilled.

His mantle shall descend, in God’s own time,

Unto some worthy one

Who portions Israel heritage sublime

From sire to son.

Our leader sleeps; his spirit through the age

Shall live uncramped and free;

While angels wrote his name upon the page

Of immortality!