Get Your Premium Membership

Rachel's Tears

Close now the starry curtains of the night Lest the dream fade for a child who could not stay; As wings stretch out to embrace the night And take her where night meets day. The silence from former broken years Torn by a sob and whispered prayer; Is filled with anguish that won't console fears In days to come where no comfort lingers there. There comes a voice from echoes of the past, A sigh from Rama weeping her sad lot; Lamentation for a woman's cry is cast As Rachel grieves her babes that were not. There's no solace in a cold grey tomb Where time has found its relentless grasp; A child so early from the womb Finds comfort in death's tender clasp. Matthew 2:18 - A voice was heard in Rama, lamentation, weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted because they are no more.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2011




Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 5/14/2012 11:10:00 AM
The final two lines are especially sad and poignant. The Biblical reference is well taken. Thank you for quoting it. Fine abab rhyming and flow... (what else?) Keith
Login to Reply
Date: 11/7/2011 8:10:00 AM
this is so good,,,i just love the story,,,as i know it so well,,,,you are a writer with so many sides,,,i can feel these poems of yours reaching out from the screen,,,,thanks for making them public to us,,,,,,wonderful.........
Login to Reply
Date: 9/17/2011 8:52:00 AM
Liz, beauty is always in the eye of the beholder; this poem is one of your very best, we loved this one -
Login to Reply
Date: 9/14/2011 10:19:00 AM
Wow! I got touched by this poem, Elizabeth. As I could feel the pain. Great writing here.
Login to Reply
Date: 9/14/2011 8:44:00 AM
Dear Elizabeth. Thank you for posting this special poem that so clarifies Mathew's verse showing the importance of our babies and the terrible anguish in their loss esp. by the Mothers. Last year I wrote a take on this verse myself and just now reposted it for you to see if you would. Your poem goes into my favs
Login to Reply
Date: 9/14/2011 7:08:00 AM
you seem to be whispering your rhyme into the readers' ears, Liz, making it impossible to hear anything else..what a lovely write though a little sad..
Login to Reply
Date: 9/14/2011 12:57:00 AM
Hi Eliz! Hope u are well. I am not gonna save this to my favs until you and Robert re--post it together!!! It is fabs, girl. Reverent and historical like the setting of her tears. Personally touching for me. Gwendolen
Login to Reply
Date: 9/13/2011 10:04:00 PM
what an interesting idea for your poem, to take this passage from the bible and imagine it like this. Very nice, elizabeth!
Login to Reply
Date: 9/13/2011 6:11:00 PM
I wrote two stanza's without being logged in and lost them. I was sooooo disappointed.:( let's see what I can come up with now. In days of old and tomorrow sighs. Theres no understanding when a little child dies. The silence of a mothers pain. With God's grace, she survives the rain. The day will come for everyone. When we finally face the setting sun. And heavens rivers will cleanse the soul. And we finally rest in God's control.
Login to Reply
Date: 9/13/2011 4:30:00 PM
Wow! Written with great depth and very touching from beginning to end my friend. It's a story with much emotion well-told. GREAT writing Liz!
Login to Reply
Date: 9/13/2011 4:13:00 PM
Tears help ease pain, no matter how deep. You impress the hell out of me with every poem you post. Pleeeeease never stop writing.
Login to Reply
Date: 9/13/2011 10:55:00 AM
a powerful write indeed - and very informative too (I didn't know this one)
Login to Reply
Date: 9/13/2011 9:30:00 AM
Elizabeth, I wish I had half your faith, half your ablity to write such beautiful poetry and half the goodness in your kind heart. It is YOU who keep me writing because I'd rather have just one attentive reader than a hundred others who read but never seek to understand. You have no idea how much your thoughts means to me and how much enjoyment I gain from your own poetic work. You are an ocean of inspiration and I can't thank you enough:) Terry Martin
Login to Reply
Date: 9/13/2011 4:21:00 AM
Yet another side to your creativity. delicate composition, captures profoundly the sadness of loss. Excellent write Elizabeth
Login to Reply

Book: Shattered Sighs