By the Waters of Babylon
The poem is a lamentation of the loss of innocence and the corrupting influence of civilization. It describes a young man's journey from a state of natural purity to one of moral decay, symbolized by his encounter with a serpent in the Garden of Eden. The poem explores themes of guilt, shame, and redemption through the protagonist's struggle to reconcile his past and present selves.
By Lord Byron · First published 1819 · Genre: Poetry, Historical, Religious · 175 words
First lines
I In the valley of waters we wept on the day When the host of the Stranger made Salem his prey; And our heads on our bosoms all droopingly lay, And our hearts were so full of the land far away!
II The song they demanded in vain-it lay still In our souls as the wind that hath died on the hill- They called for the harp-but our blood they shall spill Ere our right hands shall teach them one tone of their skill.
III All stringlessly hung in the willow's sad tree, As dead as her dead-leaf, those mute harps must be: Our hands may be fettered-our tears still are free For our God-and our Glory-and Sion, Oh Thee!
*1815.*
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By the Waters of Babylon is listed on Textopian as a poem by Lord Byron, dated 1819 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Lord Byron
- Date: 1819 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Historical, Religious, Lament
- Length: 175 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Similar titles
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- The Curse Of Minerva by Lord Byron
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with stanzas and a rhythmic pattern, characteristic of poetry.
- Historical — The poem references historical events, specifically the fall of Jerusalem, which situates it within a historical context.
- Religious — The themes of God, Sion, and spiritual lamentation are central, reflecting religious undertones.
- Lament — The tone and content express sorrow and mourning, typical of a lament.
Tags
Poetry · Romanticism · Nautical · Imagery · Symbolism · Nature · Mortality · Existentialism · Philosophy · Mythology · Allegory · Fate