Bows Of Burning Gold Poem by gershon hepner

What have those feet in ancient time
to do with bows of burning gold
and arrows of desire? Rhyme
once penned by William Blake has told
that by God's Lamb they're linked,
while in Jerusalem Satanic mills
pollute the air which has been inked
to darken its Morian hills.
The land that once was green and pleasant
has been paved over now and feet
can't walk there, and you can't shoot pheasant
with bows and arrows on a city street
where cars, not chariots of fire,
burn gas like gold men burn and turn
to bombs that make huge funeral pyres,
and cause Jerusalem to burn.


Inspired by Jerusalem, by William Blake

And did those feet in ancient time
walk upon England’s mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
on England’s pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine
shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
among these dark Satanic Mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight,
nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
till we have built Jerusalem
In England’s green and pleasant Land.


(11/13/07)