The Chinese Nightingale and Other Poems

Both Leaders: You shall bring spice and ore Over the ocean"s floor, Shipmates once more, For ten thousand years.

Women"s Leader: The Queen of Sheba asked him like a lady, Bowing most politely: "Why is the sea so deep, What secret does it keep While tides a-roaring leap Ten thousand years?"

Men"s Leader: King Solomon made answer to the lady, Bowing most politely: "My love for you is like the stormy ocean-- Too deep to understand, Bending to your command, Bringing your ships to land Ten thousand years."

King Solomon, King Solomon.

Both Leaders: King Solomon he had four hundred chieftains.

Congregation: We were the chieftains.

Both Leaders: You shall be proud again, Dazzle the crowd again, Laughing aloud For ten thousand years.

Both Leaders: King Solomon he had four hundred shepherds.

Congregation: We were the shepherds.

Both Leaders: You shall have torches bright, Watching the folds by night, Guarding the lambs aright, Ten thousand years.

Men"s Leader: King Solomon he asked the Queen of Sheba, Bowing most politely: "Why are the stars so high, There in the velvet sky, Rolling in rivers by, Ten thousand years?"

Women"s Leader: The Queen of Sheba answered like a lady, Bowing most politely: "They"re singing of your kingdom to the angels, They guide your chariot with their lamps and candles, Therefore they burn so far-- So you can drive your car Up where the prophets are, Ten thousand years."

Men"s Leader: King Solomon, King Solomon.

Both Leaders: King Solomon he kept the Sabbath holy.

And spoke with tongues in prophet words so mighty We stamped and whirled and wept and shouted:--

Congregation Rises and Joins the Song: .... "Glory."

We were his people.

Both Leaders: You shall be wild and gay, Green trees shall deck your way, Sunday be every day, Ten thousand years.

King Solomon, King Solomon.

How Samson Bore Away the Gates of Gaza

(A Negro Sermon.)

Once, in a night as black as ink, She drove him out when he would not drink.

Round the house there were men in wait Asleep in rows by the Gaza gate.

But the Holy Spirit was in this man.

Like a gentle wind he crept and ran.

("It is midnight," said the big town clock.)

He lifted the gates up, post and lock.

The hole in the wall was high and wide When he bore away old Gaza"s pride Into the deep of the night:-- The bold Jack Johnson Israelite,-- Samson-- The Judge, The Nazarite.

The air was black, like the smoke of a dragon.

Samson"s heart was as big as a wagon.

He sang like a shining golden fountain.

He sweated up to the top of the mountain.

He threw down the gates with a noise like judgment.

And the quails all ran with the big arous.e.m.e.nt.

But he wept--"I must not love tough queens, And spend on them my hard earned means.

I told that girl I would drink no more.

Therefore she drove me from her door.

Oh sorrow!

Sorrow!

I cannot hide.

Oh Lord look down from your chariot side.

You made me Judge, and I am not wise.

I am weak as a sheep for all my size."

Let Samson Be coming Into your mind.

The moon shone out, the stars were gay.

He saw the foxes run and play.

He rent his garments, he rolled around In deep repentance on the ground.

Then he felt a honey in his soul.

Grace abounding made him whole.

Then he saw the Lord in a chariot blue.

The gorgeous stallions whinnied and flew.

The iron wheels hummed an old hymn-tune And crunched in thunder over the moon.

And Samson shouted to the sky: "My Lord, my Lord is riding high."

Like a steed, he pawed the gates with his hoof.

He rattled the gates like rocks on the roof, And danced in the night On the mountain-top, Danced in the deep of the night: The Judge, the holy Nazarite, Whom ropes and chains could never bind.

Let Samson Be coming Into your mind.

Whirling his arms, like a top he sped.

His long black hair flew round his head Like an outstretched net of silky cord, Like a wheel of the chariot of the Lord.

Let Samson Be coming Into your mind.

Samson saw the sun anew.

He left the gates in the gra.s.s and dew.

He went to a county-seat a-nigh.

Found a harlot proud and high: Philistine that no man could tame-- Delilah was her lady-name.