When Love Passed By and Other Verses/Sabbath, My Love

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4496758When Love Passed By and Other Verses — Sabbath, My Love1929Judah Halevi


SABBATH, MY LOVE

I greet my love with wine and gladsome lay;
Welcome, thrice welcome, joyous Seventh Day!

Six slaves the week days are; I share
With them a round of toil and care,
Yet light the burdens seem, I bear
For thy sweet sake, Sabbath, my love!

On First-day to the accustomed task
I go content, nor guerdon ask,
Save in thy smile, at length, to bask—
Day blest of God, Sabbath, my love!

Is Second-day dull, Third-day unbright?
Hide sun and stars from Fourth-day's sight?
What need I care, who have thy light,
Orb of my life. Sabbath, my love!

The Fifth-day, joyful tidings ring:
"The morrow shall thy freedom bring!"
At dawn a slave, at eve a king—
God's table waits. Sabbath, my love!

On Sixth-day doth my cup o'erflow,
What blissful rest the night shall know.
When, in thine arms, my toil and woe
Are all forgot. Sabbath, my love!

'Tis dusk. With sudden light distilled
From one sweet face, the world is filled;
The tumult of my heart is stilled—
For thou art come, Sabbath, my love!

Bring fruits and wine, and sing a gladsome lay,
Chant; "Come in peace, O blissful Seventh Day!

—1892