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The one who makes another’s blood cascade

Shall by a human have their own blood shed.

For in God’s image humankind was made.

As I proclaim, now do it: go and fill

The earth, that humans may in strength abound.

By my command, accomplish this my will:

That humankind may spread across the ground.”

God spoke to Noah and his sons once more:

“Establish I my covenant now, hark!—

With you and your descendants evermore,

And all the living creatures from the ark.

This covenant I institute with you:

That ne’er again shall all life be cut down

By floodwaters that on the earth accrue,

And never shall the earth by water drown.

This is the sign I make twixt me and you,

And ev’ry living creature that surrounds

You here, and saw the whole flood through,

For future generations all, sans bounds:

Up in the firmament I place my bow,

‘Tis of my covenant the seal and sign.

When clouds appear, I shall see it and know

That all must ne’er be drown’d by will divine.

When in the clouds my bow mine eyes shall see,

I shall remember human life hath worth.

And then this covenant renew’d shall be,

Twixt God and ev’rything with breath on earth.” 

And thus the story of the flood did end,

Old Noah and his sons went forth and thriv’d.

The tale of Noah, though, doth yet extend

Unto the point his final breath arriv’d.

Now Noah’s sons were Japheth, Ham and Shem,

These three did from the ark’s ride venture forth—

And Ham was Canaan’s father—thus, through them

The world was peopled, east, west, south and north.

In his old age did Noah plant a vine,

And from this vine a vineyard made ascent.

One day, when Noah was full drunk with wine,

He went and lay uncover’d in his tent.

Then Ham (he, Canaan’s father) went inside

And saw his father’s private nakedness.

He went back out—his tale he could not hide—

So he to Shem and Japheth did confess.

Each went in with a garment in his arm,

And backward walk’d to cover Noah o’er.

They turn’d away so they could do no harm,

So they avoided what Ham did before.

Much later Noah stirr’d and did awake,

And knew the sin of Ham and what he’d done.

He found Ham and, for his own virtue’s sake,

This is what Noah said unto his son:

“O, curs’d be Canaan now and evermore,

Unto his brothers shall he be a slave. 

But bless’d be Shem, the son whom I adore,

Let him o’er Ham be master till his grave.

May God make room for Japheth in Shem’s sight,

That he may ever stake his tents with him.

But Canaan shall be slave to both: their might

Shall make of Canaan’s life a thing most grim.”

Three hundred fifty years did Noah gaze

Beyond the flood o’er which his ark did ride.

Nine hundred fifty years were all his days,

And then the man of God, this Noah, died.

 

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