Victor Buhagiar Poet Free verse

The Lament of the Hebrew Slaves

NB  This is not a literal translation of the famous choir "Va Pensiero" from the Nabbucco, but just what I felt as when many, many years ago I was in a choir and sang this lovely aria.

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Listen to our pitiful pleas, Oh Almighty God.
Let them be heard from every mountain and vale.
Let my prayers ascend to Heaven above
That we may one day cross the Jordan
And return to our promised land,
A place of milk and honey and fragrance
Dispersed throughout our sweet native land.          

We acknowledge our sinful nature, Lord.
We dared adore other pagan gold and stony idols,
And left you so far away from our laws.
We lament our sins and accept our punishment.
Slavery in pagan Babylon, condemned
To death and other painful beatings.
Yet, if we are not to be allowed to go back to Zion,
At least Almighty God, teach us to endure our sufferings.

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Hilda Greenhough June 17, 2024 at 7:55 AM A poem that I enjoy in this version as much as I do the biblical one. It is amazing that this period of hardship was preserved.

Karen Jones June 17, 2024 at 12:32 AM This is a powerful write full of humbling angst and beauty.

William Kelii Kekaula June 14, 2024 at 5:10 PM Mother was a pious woman and forever faithful to the Living God, yet, she did make certain that her rose garden was freed of weeds before the first ball bounced on the playground. I'm enlightened by your resurrecting words of an amissed rose garden and a voice beholden to values of certainty...Aloha my friend, sahha Victor

Eileen Manassian June 14, 2024 at 7:00 AM So well written. Unfortunately, the had to learn the hard way and not the oppressed have become oppressors. We never learn. Is that a recent photograph of you?

Regina Elliott June 12, 2024 at 5:33 AM A beauteous and classical poem on the people of Hashem, the Israelites. Bravissimo, Victor. May your day be blessed. Shalom. ~

Ink Empress June 12, 2024 at 2:43 AM Heartfelt and sincere words woven here, so very well delivered. Prayers during difficult times, today we need more hearts to pray, for light as dark is so many parts of the world. Pleasure reading your poem. Sending you light

Eve Roper June 11, 2024 at 3:13 PM Wonderful prayer. God does with our prayers help us to endure, He gives us a peace. Blessings my friend

Maria Williams June 11, 2024 at 3:54 AM When we become aware of our own sinful nature, we inevitably experience deep regret for our actions and ultimately come to terms with the consequences of our sins. As you say dear Victor at least we must implore the Almighty to teach us to endure our sufferings. A wonderful empathic poem and a fave...Hugs

Anne-Lise Andresen June 11, 2024 at 12:54 AM - Beautiful, Victor ... I wish I could sing :) - hugs

Evelyn Judy Buehler June 10, 2024 at 10:16 PM This cry to heaven is so touchingly delivered, my friend. Your heartfelt poem reflects the suffering, regrets and hopes of a people in bondage. Blessings.

Sally Eslinger June 10, 2024 at 8:45 PM Victor, please accept my deep thanks for your sharing this !

Nette Onclaud June 10, 2024 at 5:37 PM the feeling of conflict and remorse is palpable...what a stirring write which cascades down to the bones...huggs!

Joseph P. DiMino June 10, 2024 at 3:27 PM Lovely voice -- we pray for peace in such a troubled land. "Yet, if we are not to be allowed to go back to Zion, At least Almighty God, teach us to endure our sufferings." A tough pill to swallow. Blessings my friend.

Andrea Dietrich June 10, 2024 at 9:48 AM It sounds pretty much how they would have reacted once humbled and imploring God to help them back to their home. Nice one, Victor.

Sotto Poet June 10, 2024 at 9:39 AM Great poem Victor, peace, wealth, tranquility, and ideal living conditions are still dreams. I pray that they will come true eventually. God despises injustice, and the current trend of murdering infants and the elderly is abhorrent.

Joseph May June 10, 2024 at 9:25 AM A prayer of repentance as they wept at the rivers of Babylon, Very nicely done

Kim Rodrigues June 10, 2024 at 6:38 AM Victor, nice to know you sang in the choir! Yes,they had to endure much in Babylon. Upon losing favor they yearned for the land of milk and honey, the fragrance of blessing. They (We)! Let us have gratitude and repent of any idols, turn to God with all our hearts!

Sara Kendrick June 10, 2024 at 4:08 AM I imagine that they have felt or some of them have felt for years that they were separated from their home. God does hear and answer their prayers, but He does want faithfulness from them. Thanks for sharing this one with us. Someday for a while there will be peace, prosperity, calm, perfect living conditions, etc. for the whole earth. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this aria with us. So many of the Psalms were to be sung by one person or a choir or played on musical instruments or both.

Tom Cunningham June 10, 2024 at 2:38 AM I agree with Beryl, reads like a prayer, love the accompanying aria Victor. It's perfect. Tom

Beryl Edmonds June 10, 2024 at 1:45 AM This reads like a prayer, a wonderful prayer Victor. I have been in a few choirs too, I love to sing, but I can’t. I once went to an Abba tribute and one of the singers came down and asked if someone woukd like to stand up and sing, I did and sang to “I had a dream” just sang into the mike and loved it, had one of the best times ever, I had people coming up dancing with me and saying I was very good, a wonderful memory… Beryl x