Tune: Lux Benigna
('Lead, kindly light')
Psalm 137
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By the rivers of Babylon there we
Sat down, there be
Yes, we wept when we remembered Zion
Compared to none
We hung our harps upon the willow trees
The sounds of joy and mirth they stopped, did cease
For they that carried us captive away
Did in those days
Required of us a song, and they who too
Destruction do
The said, sing us one of the songs you know
Of Zion, unto us now do it show
How shall we sing the Lord's song in strange land
While be disband[ed]
If we forget Jerusalem out joy
Let none employ
Us, but let us be cast off, and not sing
Nor have offerings unto the Lord bring
Remember, Lord, Edom our enemy
And their plans see
Seeking to destroy your land to the ground
Whate'er is found
O Babylon, who are to destroyed be
Happy they who haste your end completely
They who reward you as you have us served
It all deserved
Happy they who take your little children
And murder them
For you the same have done to us, it fair
That you should in such harsh judgements so share
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Author:
orchidee (
Offline) - Published: February 8th, 2025 03:46
- Comment from author about the poem: I was invited to try a 'dark' Psalm or part of it, so here is a hymn-poem in 10.4.10.4.10.10. Not a happy theme, though the last verse explains about the atrocities.
- Category: Spiritual
- Views: 14
- Users favorite of this poem: Tristan Robert Lange
Offline)
Comments4
Gee Orchi that we should both write of child death is a bit heavy and dark within the same time span. I am trying to remember singing any dark hymns as a child and they don't come to mind and I'm sure they would if we had sung them. There are plenty of dark passages in the Bible though. Enjoyed the difference.
Thank you SB. There are some Lent hymns which are 'dark'.
And by the Canal of Ahava (which means “love” in their lingo) they assembled to be repatriated 70 years later. This is a stunning work O🙏🏻🕊
Thank you A.
Welcome O.
Good one Orchi
Thank you Gold.
Yay! You did it! And I had no doubt you could, my friend! Perfectly executed. I am glad you added the explanatory part, because as awful as that wish is, context is everything to understanding it. Well done! An easy fave! ❤️🌹👏
Thank you T.
You're welcome! I had a sneaking feeling you were going to write it and was so excited for that prospect. So glad that came true! ❤️🙏
I think I wrote before on the 'better bit' I think - leaving out the child-murder bit, or ghastly 'dashing against the stones'.
Sweet! Well, you nailed this…sounds better than stoned or dashed! 😂
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