(A Poem Game.)

“And when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, . . .
she came to prove him with hard questions.”


Men’s Leader: The Queen of Sheba came to see King Solomon.

I was King Solomon,
I was King Solomon,
I was King Solomon.


Women’s Leader: I was the Queen,
I was the Queen,
I was the Queen.

Both Leaders: We will be king and queen,

Reigning on mountains green,
Happy and free
For ten thousand years.


Both Leaders: King Solomon he had four hundred oxen.

Congregation: We were the oxen.


Both Leaders: You shall feel goads no more.

Walk dreadful roads no more,
Free from your loads
For ten thousand years.


Both Leaders: King Solomon he had four hundred sweethearts.


Congregation: We were the sweethearts.


Both Leaders: You shall dance round again,
You shall dance round again,
Cymbals shall sound again,
Cymbals shall sound again,

Wildflowers be found
For ten thousand years,
Wildflowers be found
For ten thousand years.


Both Leaders: And every sweetheart had four hundred swans.

Congregation: We were the swans.


Both Leaders: You shall spread wings again,
You shall spread wings again,

Fly in soft rings again,
Fly in soft rings again,
Swim by cool springs
For ten thousand years,
Swim by cool springs,
For ten thousand years.


Men’s Leader: King Solomon,
King Solomon.

Women’s Leader: The Queen of Sheba asked him like a lady,

Bowing most politely:
“What makes the roses bloom
Over the mossy tomb,
Driving away the gloom
Ten thousand years?”

Men’s Leader: King Solomon made answer to the lady,

Bowing most politely:
“They bloom forever thinking of your beauty,
Your step so queenly and your eyes so lovely.
These keep the roses fair,
Young and without a care,
Making so sweet the air,
Ten thousand years.”


Both Leaders: King Solomon he had four hundred sons.


Congregation: We were the sons.


Both Leaders: Crowned by the throngs again,

You shall make songs again,
Singing along
For ten thousand years.


Both Leaders: He gave each son four hundred prancing ponies.

Congregation: We were the ponies.


Both Leaders: You shall eat hay again,

In forests play again,
Rampage and neigh
For ten thousand years.

Men’s Leader: King Solomon he asked the Queen of Sheba,

Bowing most politely:
“What makes the oak-tree grow
Hardy in sun and snow,
Never by wind brought low
Ten thousand years?”

Women’s Leader: The Queen of Sheba answered like a lady,

Bowing most politely:
“It blooms forever thinking of your wisdom,
Your brave heart and the way you rule your kingdom.
These keep the oak secure,
Weaving its leafy lure,
Dreaming by fountains pure
Ten thousand years.”


Both Leaders: The Queen of Sheba had four hundred sailors.


Congregation: We were the sailors.

Both Leaders: You shall bring spice and ore

Over the ocean’s floor,
Shipmates once more,
For ten thousand years.

Women’s Leader: The Queen of Sheba asked him like a lady,

Bowing most politely:
“Why is the sea so deep,
What secret does it keep
While tides a-roaring leap
Ten thousand years?”

Men’s Leader: King Solomon made answer to the lady,

Bowing most politely:
“My love for you is like the stormy ocean—
Too deep to understand,
Bending to your command,
Bringing your ships to land
Ten thousand years.”
King Solomon,
King Solomon.


Both Leaders: King Solomon he had four hundred chieftains.

Congregation: We were the chieftains.


Both Leaders: You shall be proud again,

Dazzle the crowd again,
Laughing aloud
For ten thousand years.




Both Leaders: King Solomon he had four hundred shepherds.


Congregation: We were the shepherds.


Both Leaders: You shall have torches bright,
Watching the folds by night,
Guarding the lambs aright,
Ten thousand years.

Men’s Leader: King Solomon he asked the Queen of Sheba,

Bowing most politely:
“Why are the stars so high,
There in the velvet sky,
Rolling in rivers by,
Ten thousand years?”

Women’s Leader: The Queen of Sheba answered like a lady,

Bowing most politely:
“They’re singing of your kingdom to the angels,
They guide your chariot with their lamps and candles,
Therefore they burn so far—
So you can drive your car
Up where the prophets are,
Ten thousand years.”

Men’s Leader: King Solomon,
King Solomon.

Both Leaders: King Solomon he kept the Sabbath holy.

And spoke with tongues in prophet words so mighty

We stamped and whirled and wept and shouted:—

Congregation Rises and Joins the Song:
. . . . “Glory.”
We were his people.


Both Leaders: You shall be wild and gay,
Green trees shall deck your way,

Sunday be every day,
Ten thousand years.


King Solomon,
King Solomon.