| Joseph Friedlander, comp. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse. 1917. | | | | The Prayer of the High Priest | | By Marie Harrold Garrison |
| | 100 Years B.C.E.
THE HIGH PRIEST at the altar lingering stood— | |
| The service o’er. | |
| The worshippers with faces kind and good, | |
| Passed from the door. | |
| |
| The synagogue was empty; only one— | 5 |
| A Child—remained; | |
| With eager eyes as shining as the Sun | |
| He stood as chained. | |
| |
| “Kohen Gadol,” said he, “When I grow | |
| To man’s estate, | 10 |
| I hope that I shall know the things you know | |
| And be as great. | |
| |
| “And Oh, I wish such glorious robes to wear | |
| As these of yours, | |
| Dear Master, intercede for me in prayer, | 15 |
| For that secures | |
| |
| “What e’er you ask. And here—behold I bring | |
| These beauteous flowers; | |
| Upon the brink of Kedron they did cling | |
| These many hours. | 20 |
| |
| “Accept them. With the other blossoms—see?— | |
| Are here, so fair, | |
| The Valley Lilies; these I give to thee, | |
| Now make thy prayer.” | |
| |
| On that boy’s head the High Priest—smiling—laid | 25 |
| A kindly hand. | |
| He said: “My child, these lilies here have prayed; | |
| They understand | |
| |
| “As well as I the mysteries of God. | |
| I ask for you | 30 |
| Such raiment as the flowers of the sod | |
| When fresh with dew. | |
| |
| “Abide thou in thine innocence, for lo! | |
| The Great High Priest | |
| May even less of God—Jehovah—know | 35 |
| Than thou, the Least.” | | | | |
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