Selected Poems (Engelse vertaling)

24 JEHUDAH HALEVI

12

ON THE SEA
IV

TO THE WEST WIND

This is thy wind, O perfumed west,
With spikenard and apple in his wings!

Thou comest forth of the treasuries of the
traders in spice—
Ps. 135.7. Thou art not of the treasuries of the wind.

Thou waftest me on swallow's wings, and
proclaimest liberty for me;
Cant. 1.13. Like pure myrrh from the bundle of spices
thou art chosen.¹
How must men long for thee, which for thy sake
Ride over the crest of the sea on the back of a
plank!

Stay not thine hand from the ship

Either when day abideth or in the cool breath

of the night;
But beat out the deep, and tear the heart of

the seas and touch
The holy mountains, and there shalt thou rest.
Rebuke thou the east wind which tosseth the
sea into tempest
jer. 1.13. Until he maketh its heart like a seething pot.

¹ Note the play on the three meanings of the word דרור.