| Joseph Friedlander, comp. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse. 1917. | | | | Purim, 1900 | | By Alice D. Braham |
| | | THOU poor wan phantom of a vanished joy, | |
| Pale wandered from the East! Upon thy brow | |
| Hang once-fresh garlands, sadly withered now; | |
| Time’s hand hath marred what it might not destroy, | |
| Darkened thy fame, and made thee almost dumb | 5 |
| From cold neglect. Thy backward-gazing eyes | |
| See visions of dead happy pasts arise | |
| To mock thee with sweet laughter. Children come | |
| And wonderingly look on one they loved, | |
| Who brought them gifts and pleasure and a tale | 10 |
| That even Repetition could not stale,— | |
| Of Love triumphant, and of Hate removed, | |
| Now scatter ashes on thy reverend head, | |
| Israel forgets thee, Purim! thou art dead. | | | | |
|
|
