Gedicht
Chaim Nachman Bialik
After My Death
Say this when you mourn for me:There was a man – and look, he is no more.
He died before his time.
The music of his life suddenly stopped.
A pity! There was another song in him.
Now it is lost
forever.
A great pity! He had a violin,
a living, speaking soul
to which he uttered
the secrets of his heart,
making all its strings vibrate,
save one he kept inviolate.
Back and forth his supple fingers danced,
one string alone remained entranced
still unheard.
A pity!
All its life that string quivered
silently shook,
yearned for its song, its mate,
as a heart saddens before its fate.
Despite delay it waited daily
mutely beseeching its saviour lover
who lingered, loitered, tarried ever,
and did not come.
Great is the pain!
There was a man – and look, he is no more.
The music of his life suddenly stopped.
There was another song in him.
Now it is lost
forever.
© Translation: 1981, Ruth Nevo
From: Chaim Nachman Bialik: The Selected Poems
Publisher: Dvir, Tel Aviv, 1981
From: Chaim Nachman Bialik: The Selected Poems
Publisher: Dvir, Tel Aviv, 1981
AFTER MY DEATH
From: Shirim
Publisher: Dvir, Tel Aviv
Publisher: Dvir, Tel Aviv
Gedichten
Gedichten van Chaim Nachman Bialik
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AFTER MY DEATH
From: Shirim
After My Death
Say this when you mourn for me:There was a man – and look, he is no more.
He died before his time.
The music of his life suddenly stopped.
A pity! There was another song in him.
Now it is lost
forever.
A great pity! He had a violin,
a living, speaking soul
to which he uttered
the secrets of his heart,
making all its strings vibrate,
save one he kept inviolate.
Back and forth his supple fingers danced,
one string alone remained entranced
still unheard.
A pity!
All its life that string quivered
silently shook,
yearned for its song, its mate,
as a heart saddens before its fate.
Despite delay it waited daily
mutely beseeching its saviour lover
who lingered, loitered, tarried ever,
and did not come.
Great is the pain!
There was a man – and look, he is no more.
The music of his life suddenly stopped.
There was another song in him.
Now it is lost
forever.
© 1981, Ruth Nevo
From: Chaim Nachman Bialik: The Selected Poems
Publisher: 1981, Dvir, Tel Aviv
From: Chaim Nachman Bialik: The Selected Poems
Publisher: 1981, Dvir, Tel Aviv
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