The Eyes of Queen Esther, and How They Conquered King Ahasuerus
Esther, second chapter, tenth verse and twentieth verse:“Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred.”
I
He harried lions up the peaks.In blood and moss and snow they died.He wore a cloak of lions' manesTo satisfy his curious pride.Men saw it trimmed with emerald bandsFlash on the crested battle-tide.
Where Bagdad stands, he hunted kings, Burnt them alive, his soul to cool. Yet in his veins god Ormadz wrought To make a just man of a fool. He spoke the rigid truth, and rode, And drew the bow, by Persian rule.
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 gentlenessWas in her bridal fantasy!
Why did he fall by candlelightAnd press his bull-heart to her feet?He found them as the mountain-snowWhere lions died. Her hands were sweetAs ice upon a blood-burnt mouthAs mead to reapers in the wheat.
The little nation in her soulBloomed in her girl's prophetic face.She named it not, and yet he feltOne 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: The fern before the grazing fawn Bends down with dew, a thing of naught, Only the 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 crownThe 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 fellIn 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.