The Song Remains – דאָס ליד איז געבליבן

The Song Remains

People of the Warsaw Ghetto merged with a map of the Nazi occupation of Poland

דאָס ליד איז געבליבן

Welcome to our collection of Yiddish poems with English translations from Nazi German occupied Poland. We’ll be publishing one new poem per week into 2027, so be sure to subscribe to get free weekly updates.

  • Miryem (Miriam) Ulinover

    When dear summer makes its appearance,
    dresses lighten, bright and pleasant;
    I’m the sole one, an exception,
    sheathing myself in a bold red garment.

    (more…)

  • Moyshe Shimel (Maurycy Szymel)

    Summer. Nights are round as moons.
    I love the windswept grasses and the face
    of a woman
    walking on silver paths in the forest depths.

    It’s blue
    and profound loneliness
    streams from underfoot –
    the night is full of all that rustles and blooms.
    And how good it is now like this
    just as before writing a poem
    about windows open to the wind, to night,
    and about white hands on eyes that are closed.

    /MK

    (more…)

  • Mordkhe (Mordechai) Gebirtig

    On the wall, left of my bed
    my daughter’s portrait hangs
    frequently during the night I think of her
    and see her lovely face
    and hear her talk with me…

    “Daddy dear, it’s been so long
    since we have been together
    this war for sure cannot last long
    I promise I will come to you
    I hear spring knocking at your door”
    I see her smiling sweetly speaking love above my bed
    My daughter’s Shifreleh’s Portrait

    Kraków, 2 December 1939

    (more…)

  • Borekh Gelman

    Like a sinking ship in a deep wavy sea
    my little home sank unsteady and alone
    and like hungry dogs in an empty market
    mice ran around crying steadily at night

    (more…)

  • Motl Kozlovski

    The birch tree in the corner of my yard
    trembles with every leaf ashamed
    every branch longs for sun and dew
    in the shade of big locked doors

    (more…)

  • Sholem Zhirman

    Little children mischief makers
    on your tip-toes come right here
    let your old grandma sleep
    I have a story about a bear…

    (more…)

  • Hershele (Hersh Danielewicz)

    By the clear waters
    stands a crooked cottage
    there in that little place
    is lovely Zlatke’s home

    Her cheeks – little roses
    her smile is dimpled
    her eyes so alive
    tender and loving

    (more…)

  • Borekh Olitsky (Baruch Olitsky)

    Not prophets, apostles
    not extinguished suns
    not unfortunate mountains and valleys
    have come to warn, to tell –
    quiet, simple folk representations
    brothers with hammers, sheers, awls
    have printed the warning signs
    and posted them on streets and corners
    brothers probably stand now behind bars
    like stunned pale statues
    and may be mistaken
    their bones are already overgrown with grass
    let’s not go there

    (more…)

  • Ber Horovits

    Tonight, in a dream
    there came to me
    a young lover
    who tenderly look me by the hand

    (more…)

  • Moyshe Shimel (Maurycy Szymel)

    A fiddle is playing in a country green
    Where I am not and will never be

    A sunny house is blossoming in a white land
    Where I am not and will never be

    (more…)