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| THE FLAMING sunset bathed the distant hills | |
| In gold, the air was chill, and darkness fell | |
| Upon the silent land. Then through the night | |
| A cry of pain rose like a wave, and fell, | |
| Again and yet again it soared aloft, | 5 |
| But dying to be born anew; a wail | |
| Of anguish wild, of hoarse and deep despair | |
| From countless hearts, who called unto their gods | |
| With tears and sobs, with broken prayers in vain! | |
| For death attired in red, with scourge and flail | 10 |
| Had swept through Egypt at the voice of God. | |
| And as he passed behold his steps were stained | |
| With blood. All first-born children in the land | |
| Were dead. The Pharaoh and the shepherd mourned | |
| Alike, for blood red tracks were traced from door | 15 |
| To door; from palace garden to the home | |
| Of those who lived in pinch of utter want. | |
| Then God spake, and the voices of the crowds | |
| Were stilled: “I am the Lord. I am the Lord, | |
| My children you have treated like the dust, | 20 |
| My chosen people you have bound with shame. | |
| You hold them, and you would not let them go, | |
| So I the Lord their God have taken all | |
| The first-born in your land … | |
| But Israel’s children have I spared to live, | 25 |
| And death into their house hath entered not. | |
| Repent, repent, and pray you be stiff-necked | |
| And proud no more.” Then ceased the voice of God. | |
| And mourning into hatred turned, the fumes | |
| Of passion smote upon their souls—“Begone, | 30 |
| Begone accursed of our sight, arise | |
| And flee, lest we be all dead men; take gold, | |
| And silver, flocks and herds, and leave us peace.” | |
| So Israel fled out in the night, and came | |
| Not to that land again. And now once more | 35 |
| A silence fell, and stars of heaven gazed | |
| Upon the stricken homes, upon the palm | |
| Trees listening to the whisper of the wind, | |
| Upon the silent Nile, upon the land | |
| Of sin. | 40 |
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