Ii

Ahasuerus in his prime Was gracious and voluptuous. He saw a pale face turn to him, A gleam of Heaven’s righteousness: A girl with hair of David’s gold And Rachel’s face of loveliness.

He dropped his sword, he bowed his head. She led his steps to courtesy. He took her for his white north star: A wedding of true majesty. Oh, what a war for gentleness Was in her bridal fantasy!

Why did he fall by candlelight And press his bull-heart to her feet? He found them as the mountain-snow Where lions died. Her hands were sweet As ice upon a blood-burnt mouth, As mead to reapers in the wheat.

The little nation in her soul Bloomed in her girl’s prophetic face. She named it not, and yet he felt One challenge: her eternal race. This was the mystery of her step, Her trembling body’s sacred grace.

He stood, a priest, a Nazarite, A rabbi reading by a tomb. The hardy raider saw and feared Her white knees in the palace gloom, Her pouting breasts and locks well combed Within the humming, reeling room.

Her name was Meditation there: Fair opposite of bullock’s brawn. I sing her eyes that conquered him. He bent before his little fawn, Her dewy fern, her bitter weed, Her secret forest’s floor and lawn.

He gave her Shushan from the walls. She saw it not, and turned not back. Her eyes kept hunting through his soul As one may seek through battle black For one dear banner held on high, For one bright bugle in the rack.

The scorn that loves the sexless stars: Traditions passionless and bright: The ten commands (to him unknown), The pillar of the fire by night:-- Flashed from her alabaster crown The while they kissed by candlelight.

The rarest psalms of David came From her dropped veil (odd dreams to him). It prophesied, he knew not how, Against his endless armies grim. He saw his Shushan in the dust-- Far in the ages growing dim.

Then came a glance of steely blue, Flash of her body’s silver sword. Her eyes of law and temple prayer Broke him who spoiled the temple hoard. The thief who fouled all little lands Went mad before her, and adored.

The girl was Eve in Paradise, Yet Judith, till her war was won. All of the future tyrants fell In this one king, ere night was done, And Israel, captive then as now Ruled with tomorrow’s rising sun.

And in the logic of the skies He who keeps Israel in his hand, The God whose hope for joy on earth The Gentile yet shall understand, Through powers like Esther’s steadfast eyes Shall free each little tribe and land.

These verses were written for the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Philadelphia and read at their meeting, December 8, 1917.