Selected Poems (Engelse vertaling)

23 JEHUDAH HALEVI

Are come to the birth and there is no strength

to bring forth.
And though I should lack for food and drink,
I take the sweetness of Thy name into my

mouth for sustenance;
And I have no care for worldly goods,
Nor for treasure nor for aught that may
perish—

Even so far that I can forsake her that went

forth of my loins,
Sister of my soul—and she mine only one—
And I can forget her son, though it pierce my
heart,

And I have nothing left but his memory for a
symbol—

Fruit of my loins, child of my delight—
Ah! how should Jehudah forget Jehudah?¹

But all this is a light thing when set against
Thy love,

Ps. 100,4. Since I may enter Thy gates with thanks-
giving,

And sojourn there, and count my heart
A burnt offering bound upon Thine altar;
And may make my grave in Thy land,
Gen. 21.30. So that it be there a witness for me.

¹  The poet refers to his only daughter and her son
Jehudah, whom he left behind in Spain.