A young Levite among priests, <br />He remained long on morning watch. <br />Jewish night grew thick around him, <br />The ruined temple was solemnly being raised. <br /> <br />He said: the yellow of the skies is alarming. <br />Run, priests, for night is already over the Euphrates! <br />But the elders thought: this is not our fault; <br />Behold the black and yellow light, the joy, the Jews. <br /> <br />He was with us when, on the stream's shore, <br />We swaddled the sabbath in precious linen <br />With a heavy menorah lit the night of Jerusalem, <br />The heady fumes of non-existence.<br /><br />Osip Emilevich Mandelstam<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-young-levite-among-priests/
