Anne Kingsmill Finch

Here you will find the Poem Psalm The 137th Paraphras'd To The 7th Verse of poet Anne Kingsmill Finch

Psalm The 137th Paraphras'd To The 7th Verse

Proud Babylon! Thou saw'st us weep; 
Euphrates, as he pass'd along, 
Saw, on his Banks, the Sacred Throng 
A heavy, solemn Mourning keep. 
Sad Captives to thy Sons, and Thee, 
When nothing but our Tears were Free!

A Song of Sion they require, 
And from the neighb'ring Trees to take 
Each Man his dumb, neglected Lyre, 
And chearful Sounds on them awake: 
But chearful Sounds the Strings refuse, 
Nor will their Masters Griefs abuse.

How can We, Lord, thy Praise proclaim, 
Here, in a strange unhallow'd Land! 
Lest we provoke them to Blaspheme 
A Name, they do not understand; 
And with rent Garments, that deplore 
Above whate'er we felt before. 

But, Thou, Jerusalem, so Dear! 
If thy lov'd Image e'er depart, 
Or I forget thy Suff'rings here; 
Let my right Hand forget her Art; 
My Tongue her vocal Gift resign, 
And Sacred Verse no more be mine!