At the Gate

THEY drive me out of my country,

They thrust me out of my land,

They call me an alien—I

Who had fought in the foreign band.

On the ice of the Amur River,

I and the starving few,

And my country paid me with curses

And called me an alien Jew.

They worship the Jew in the churches,

They murder the Jew in the street;

He taught them to love and to pity,

His kindred, they murder and beat.

His name they honor and glory,

His teachings they rarely do;

He cometh! The Russian will mock Him—

He, too, was an alien Jew.

How long! Oh, how long! is the wailing

Till Russia is judged at Thy bar—

With Egypt and Spain and with Asshur

Till Russia shall stand where they are?

See, the finger of God is writing,

Blasting the murdering crew;

See, the Pole and the Finn and the Cossack

And the God of the alien Jew.

They drive me out of my country,

To a foreign land I go;

They trained me to be a soldier,

They teach me to be their foe.

Their training will go with their teaching—

This tongue of mine speaks true;

When the foes are crowding upon her

They’ll be led by the alien Jew.