Salix Babylonica
By
John I. Blair
(Upon re-reading Psalm 137)
By the waters of Babylon
I sat me down
To weep at my own memories
Of Zion and to sing its songs.
The gentle, sweeping branches
Of the willow, also weeping,
Cannot solace me.
Nor can a psalm of vengeance,
Of violence, with its jubilee
Anticipating little ones of Babylon
Being dashed against the stones
By blessed warriors.
This is no way to sing
The Lord’s song
In a strange land.
©2004 John I. Blair
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