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.