דאָס ליד איז געבליבן
Hannah-Rose Hershele (Hersh Danilewicz) Sabbath after eatingher kugl luncheon,Hanna-Rose is standing atthe mirror in the kitchen. Combing out her locks,buttoning up her blouse,she bounces to the window,audaciously looking out. Across the way Yoske bidesand beckons with his finger –she bestows her little smilethat makes his heart lighter. In haste she dons a covering,leaves the bolt hanging,and… Read more…
Warding Off the Evil Eye Talk (Folk Style) Two gals sitting on a mossy stone / gab about God, grass, and the marvel of horseradish root / which in winter hides with the worm deep in the ground / until it detects the thunder’s sound. Read more…
From the Cycle: Who Knows From Whence My Poem The linden shelters the twilight / like a leaf among its branches, / its flower enfolding the night in a bud / till dawn Read more…
It’s This Night It’s this night and this book and this poem I read / while being birthed, this night had heard my first scream Read more…
Golden Shoes The sun shone brightly in a festive way: / today is the king of Chelm’s birthday. / He observes from the terrace on high / if the folk with the new gift are drawing nigh. Read more…
About Alter Kacyzne (Alter-Sholem Katsizne) Alter-Sholem Kacyzne (Katsizne) (1885-1941) was born in Vilnius (Vilno) to a working-class family. Yiddish was his mameloshen or mother-tongue, but he taught himself Hebrew, Russian, German, Polish, and French. At age 14, he went to work in his uncle’s photography studio in Dnipro (Ekatrinoslav). He became a professional photographer, and documented Jewish life in Poland,… Read more…
From My Childhood Little things snowy white, / round as tiny stars / and sweet as sweet can be, / like saccharine pearls for tea. Read more…
To a little boy in a Jewish village Don’t cry little boy, wipe off your tears, it will soon be good / We will heal the wounds that drip with blood. Read more…
Autumn Between tree and tree exists the sky, / between sky and sky – stars / (everything taking form must ignite and be extinguished…) / leading up to houses along milky roads. Read more…
Visiting my Mama – For so long have my eyes been seeking, / awaiting some letter of yours, my son – / in the nights my heart was wakeful / and quaking like a leaf in the wind. Read more…