Selected Poems (Engelse vertaling)

47 JEHUDAH HALEVI

Then would its waters be divided at the touch
of thy foot.

Would that after my death, unto mine ears

should come
The sound of the golden bells upon thy skirts I¹

Or shouldst thou be asking how fareth thy
belovèd, I from the depths of the tomb
Would ask of thy love and thy welfare.

Verily, to thy shedding of mine heart's blood
There be two witnesses—thy cheeks and
thy lips.

How sayest thou it is not true, since these be

my witnesses
For my blood, and that thine hands have
shed it?

Why desirest thou my death, whilst I but
desire

To add years unto the years of thy life?

Though thou dost rob my slumber in the night

of my longing,
Would I not give the sleep of mine eyes unto
thine eyelids?

The fire of thee licketh up the waters of tears,
Yea, and the waters of thy tears wear the
hearts of stone.

¹ The poet refers to the bells on the skirts which are
still worn in old-fashioned countries of the Orient, and
also in Spain.