Poets of Jerusalem

 The poems of Jerusalem all have some themes in common. One common theme is how they all say how Jerusalem is a path between heaven and Earth. In the poem “City of Olive Branches” it calls Jerusalem the swiftest path from heaven to Earth. The poem “In Jerusalem” talks on how the prophets used Jerusalem to travel from earth to heaven. There are many passages in scriptures that talk of the prophets traveling to heaven from Jerusalem. For example, in the Quran it talks about prophet Muhammad’s night journey to Jerusalem where he ascended to heaven and led all the prophets in prayer. Christians, Jews, and Muslims all believe that Jerusalem is a holy city that has connected people to God throughout history. Another theme in the poems is how the poets talk about feeling the presence of the prophets. In the poem “Jerusalem: My Happy Home” the poet talks about how there are “Apostles, martyrs, prophets there,” and the poet in the poem “In Jerusalem” talks on how the prophets bring peace and love into the city. The people that live in Jerusalem, whether they be Muslim, Christian, or Jewish, all feel a connection to the past prophets they believe that came to the city throughout time. Jerusalem’s citizens can feel a connection to these past figures and feel like these prophets still hold a connection to the city to this day. People of all three of these religions believe the prophets are in heaven and since Jerusalem is a path to get to heaven it allows the people of the city to feel a connection to the prophets. Along with a feeling of the presence of the prophets the poets we read about also talked about how the city of Jerusalem had an overall atmosphere of peace and love. In the poem “Jerusalem: My Happy Home,” the poet says “Jerusalem, my happy home! Name ever dear to me; When shall my labors have an end, In joy, and peace, and thee?” This line illustrates how the author feels like Jerusalem brings in joy and happiness. The people of Jerusalem feel like they are close to God in the city and that brings comfort and joy to these different people.