Out of Babylon

THEIR looks for me are bitter,

And bitter is their word —

I may not glance behind unseen,

I may not sigh unheard.

So fare we forth from Babylon,

Along the road of stone;

And no one looks to Babylon

Save I — save I alone!

My mother's eyes are glory-filled

( Save when they fall on me )

The shining of my father's face

I tremble when I see,

For they were slaves in Babylon,

And now they're walking free —

They leave their chains in Babylon,

I bear my chains with me!

At night a sound of singing

The vast encampment fills;

“Jerusalem! Jerusalem!”

It sweeps the nearing hills —

But no one sings of Babylon

( Their home of yesterday )

And no one prays for Babylon,

And I — I dare not pray!

Last night the Prophet saw me;

And, while he held me there,

The holy fire within his eyes

Burned all my secret bare.

“What! Sigh you so for Babylon?”

( I turned away my face )

“Here's one who turns to Babylon,

Heart traitor to her race!”

I follow and I follow!

My heart upon the rack;

I follow to Jerusalem —

The long road stretches back

To Babylon, to Babylon!

And every step I take

Bears farther off from Babylon

A heart that cannot break.