Carmel

The Holy One of Shiloh bade:
"Elijah, speak to Ephraim's king,
And I, the merciful, will bring
My rain anew on hill and glade."

And Ahab railed: "Art thou the man
Who troubles thirsting Israel?" —
"Not I, but Sidon's Jezebel;
Not I, but Omri's heathen clan."

"Why should the Highest bless a fold
That turns from Him to ways of death,
Adoring Baal and Ashtoreth
And Jeroboam's beasts of gold?

"Why should He pour His fruitful rain
Upon the realm of her who drave
His faithful seers from cave to cave,
And spilled their blood on mount and plain?

"Now gather thou on Carmel all
The prophets of the starry horde
And Arbel's queen and Sidon's lord;
Yea, whoso scoffs at Yahveh's call.

"And they shall cry to gods of stone,
And I to El's eternal name.;
And whoso sends consuming flame,
The earth shall hail him God alone."

O fire of Heaven! Sinai's breath!
Elijah's altar blazes high!
The priests of Baal and Ashtar lie
By Kishon's river, dumb in death.

Then wailed the Canaanitish queen:
"O gods infernal! Death and Fear!
Avenge me on this bloody seer!
Or slay me also, gods unseen!"