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About Ted Nesbitt
Expertise
I am a reference librarian and a former advanced placement English
teacher. I can help identify poems, and I can define literary
terms. In the area of literary criticism or analyses of specific
poems, my experience and interests are these: Shakespeare,
18th- and 19th-century English literature, and American literature.
I prefer short, specific questions on particular authors, poems,
terms, or literary movements. I will not edit lengthy submissions
or write students` assignments.
Experience
Masters degree in English.
Highly rated volunteer at the grammar and writing section of Allexperts.com for more than two years.
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You are here: Experts > Arts/Humanities > Writing > Poetry > Remembering a poem
Expert: Ted Nesbitt
Date: 5/1/2008
Subject: Remembering a poem
Question
I am sorry to hear you are no longer answering questions. You definitely deserve the thanks you didn't get. I will understand if you don't respond or do not answer this question, but I will post it in the hopes that you do. When I was about 10 years old I memorized a poem called The Jew but author unknown. It's been 27 years since I can recall the whole poem but the first few stanzas are still in my head. It goes:
You ask me to impart my opinion, you ask me to convey to you
From an honest heart and honest mind what I think of the Jew.
I'll do the same with pleasure and rack my mind to trace
The characteristics I have found of the people of that race.
I've played with him in childhood, I've seen him in his youth.
I've stood with him in manhood, I speak none but the truth.
He's upright, fair and honest. And good and kind and true
He's stood life's test, one of the very best-This man they call the Jew.
He's played in tyrant's cruel hands...
Here is where I get lost. As it is what I do know, I'm remembering from so many years ago.
It would mean so much to me (and my father who asked me to memorize it) to respond if you have any idea of the remainder of the poem.
Regardless,
Thank you very much.
Debbie
Answer
Debbie:
The poem was written by Francis T. Sweeney in 1931. Sweeney, by the way, was an Irish Catholic.
An evaluation of my response would be nice, but people rarely express thanks, so don't feel that you must do so.
Ted Nesbitt
Here is the complete text.
You ask me impart my opinion
You ask convey to you
From an honest heart and an honest mind
What I think of a Jew.
I’ll do the same with pleasure
And rack my mind to trace
The characteristics I have found
In the People of that race.
I have played with him in childhood
I have seen him in his youth
I have stood by him in manhood
And I speak nought but the truth.
He was upright, fair, and honest,
He was good and kind and true,
And I think of him quite often
My friend who is a Jew.
The Jew has many virtues
And vices like us all,
He’s good and bad, like you and me,
Like us he’s apt to fall,
And while he isn’t better,
I must impress on you
He has stood life’s test with the very best,
This man they call a Jew.
He has felt the tyrant’s cruel hand,
In centuries passed away,
He has seen the star of justice
Fall and crumble and decay,
He has seen his people’s blood flow
As intolerance ‘round him grew,
But he struggled on to gain his own,
This man they call a Jew.
He was driven without a reason
From the land he would call home,
He has suffered in his travels
As an exile forced to roam,
He has wandered on with hoping heart
To every land he knew,
And proved his worth o’er God’s green earth,
This man they call a Jew.
When my heart was filled with sorrow,
And my head was in a whirl,
I often went into his home
To teach his boy or girl,
And if I showed distress while there,
I swear to all it’s true,
I often heard “God bless you"
From the little childish Jew.
He has felt his mother’s fond caress,
And his manly dad’s embrace,
And if he’s guided by their words,
He’ll never meet disgrace,
For they guide their offspring rightly,
And they’re kind to others too,
And I’m always proud to know him,
This man they call a Jew.
He never made a distinction
When a cry for help was heard,
But sent a contribution
And gave a kindly word.
In any clime beneath the sun
No man has been more true,
Than this wandering son of Israel,
This man they call a Jew.
When life’s great play is ended,
And all things shall pass away,
When the Great Judge of the Universe
Asks how each has spent life’s day,
He’ll hold his own in judgment,
As all good men shall do.
And enjoy eternal blessings,
This man they call a Jew.
So after all we’re human,
We’re good and bad at best,
And if we wipe out our own faults,
And not condemn the rest,
We’ll feel by far more happy,
And this means me and you,
Let us go our way each blessed day,
And not condemn the Jew.
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