Selected Poems (Engelse vertaling)

39 JEHUDAH HALEVI

22

ON EAGLES' WINGS

On the way from Egypt to Zion

Can bodies of clay

Be prison-houses

For hearts bound fast

To eagles' wings—

For a man life-weary

Whose whole desire

Is to lay his face

In the chosen dust?

Isa. 19,16.

Yet he feared and trembled

With falling tears,

To cast Spain from him

And seek shores beyond;

To ride upon ships,

To tread through wastes,

Dens of lions,

Cant. 4,8•

Mountains of leopards—

But he rebuketh his dear ones

And chooseth exile,

Forsaketh shelter

Jer. 17.6.

And inhabiteth deserts,

While wolves of the forests

Find in his sight

The favour of maidens

In the sight of youths;

And ostriches please him

Ps. 68,26.

Like singers and players,

Zech.11,3.

And the roaring of lions

Jud. 5,16.

Like the bleating of flocks;