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Home  »  The Standard Book of Jewish Verse  »  On to the Promised Land

Joseph Friedlander, comp. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse. 1917.

By Rufus Learsi

On to the Promised Land

I
A DAWNING sun breaks through the sable cloud!

Oh, see the East ablaze in crimson hue!

There peals a mighty blast triumphant, loud,

A call to rouse the ever-striving Jew!

CHORUS
Arise my people grand in story,

Thy little ones and patriarchs hoary,

Illumined by thy pristine glory,

And form one mighty band!

And let thy shout ascend to heaven,

For lo! the clouds thy dawn hast riven,

Behold fulfilled the promise given,

On to the promised land!

II
Now beam the rosy rays throughout the lands,

And eyes with sorrow dim light up anew!

In every clime the call is joining bands

Who swing aloft the standard of the Jew!

III
Oh! let the mountain land beloved of God,

Where heroes bled and prophets falsehood slew!

No longer mourning-wrapt, the sacred sod

Blooms forth to greet the home-returning Jew!

IV
The torrent sweeps and melts the crags away,

A nation’s cherished dream at last comes true!

For now indeed has come the promised day

Of freedom for the never-conquered Jew!