Felicia Hemans in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine Volume 33 1833/The Song of Miriam

by Felicia Hemans

For other versions of this work, see Female Characters of Scripture. III. The Song of Miriam.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 33, Page 593

THE SONG OF MIRIAM.

A song for Israel's God!—Spear, crest, and helm,
    Lay by the billows of the old Red Sea,
When Miriam's voice o'er that sepulchral realm
    Sent on the blast a hymn of jubilee;

With her lit eye, and long hair floating free,
    Queen-like she stood, and glorious was the strain,
Ev'n as instinct with the tempestuous glee
    Of the dark waters, tossing o'er the slain.

A song for God's own Victory!—Oh, thy lays,
    Bright Poesy! were holy in their birth:—
How hath it died, thy seraph note of praise,
    In the bewildering melodies of Earth!
Return from troubling bitter founts; return
Back to the life-springs of thy native urn!