Six Yiddish-Language Poets: Avi Fried, Aliza Greenblatt, Rokhl Korn, Abraham Nahum Stencl, Leyzer Volf, and Rajzel Zychlinsky
Translated by: Avi Fried, Caleb Sher, Joseph Reisberg, Jordan Lee Schnee, Roberta Newman, and Susan Cohen
.
Brukhim haboโim, welcome, to issue twenty-eight of The Loch Raven Review Poetry Translations. We invite you to explore selected works of six Yiddish-language poets, links in a goldene keyt, a golden chain of literary tradition spanning, in this particular gathering, from interwar Eastern Europe to the contemporary United States. In this issue, six translators champion writers they loveโ they have read their work closely, carefully so as to carry over not only a language, but a whole culture and world.
Yiddish is first recorded as a written language around a thousand years ago. The golden age of Yiddish literature and publishing was about a hundred years between the 1870s and 1970s, and some of the major literary centers included Warsaw, Vilnius, New York City, Buenos Aires, and Tel Aviv.
The Holocaust was an unimaginable destruction of a Yiddish-speaking civilization across Europe. In the postwar USSR, the Yiddish culture was oppressed by Stalin and leading writers and intellectuals were murdered, while Yiddish and other diasporic Jewish languages were suppressed in the state of Israel.
But despite misconceptions, Yiddish has never been a โdead languageโ in all the centuries of its existence and today hundreds of thousands of people, mainly Hasidic Jews, speak in mame loshn, the mother tongue.
With recently revived interest in Yiddish especially among younger people, the future is bright for Yiddish translation. For some of the six translators represented here, this issue marks their translation debut. Others have had more time to develop the deep attention, rigorous research, and open ears that translation requires.
Modern Yiddish literature has experimented with many different styles over the course of its relatively short existence, and the translations here are just a sampling. Jordan Lee Schnee carries over into English the surreal lines of Abraham Nahum Stenclโs poetry. By contrast, Caleb Sher translates the concise lyrics of Aliza Greenblattโs love poems. Coincidentally, three translators have chosen poets who fled to the Soviet Union during World Word IIโ but despite some biographical similarities, their styles range widely. One translator, Avi David Fried, has even translated his own contemporary Yiddish poetry.
We present the translations here as well as the poems in the original Yiddish, which is written with a variant of the Hebrew alphabet. In the Jewish tradition, the letters of the Hebrew alphabet are seen as containing much beauty and sanctity, even predating the creation of the universe itself. In addition, we present transliterations in the standardized academic dialect, so all readers can access the sounds and rhythms of Yiddish.
Thank you to all these wonderful translators for entrusting us with their work. I wish to thank Poetry Translations Editor Danuta E. Kosk-Kosicka for giving me this opportunity, guiding me through the selection process and for offering her valuable feedback and support. I would also like to thank Baltimore poet and dear friend Shirley J. Brewer for connecting us.
Mit vareme grusn, with warm wishes,
Joseph Reisberg, Guest Co-Editor
.
Avi Fried
translated by Avi Fried
โIt Existsโ
There is….
It exists…
There is a valley
There is a hill
There is a river
And I’m right in the middle of a sticky โ
a tangible situation.
And a situation will most definitely become a happening.
I search for the letters…
I examine the letters….
And between them, between them
โ a tiny flame.
And if I would speak –
All the letters would dance.
Dance inside my mouth.
There is…
It exists..
There’s a distinction
There’s a difference..
Between a valley
Between a hill
Between a riverโฆ
.
ืขืก ืืื ืืึธ
ืขืก ืืื ืืึธ
ืืื ืคึฟืึทืจืึทื
ืืื ืคึฟืึทืจืึทื ืึท ืืึธื
ืืื ืคึฟืึทืจืึทื ืึท ืืึทืจื
ืืื ืคึฟืึทืจืึทื ืึท ืืฒึทื
ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืกืึทืืข ืืืื ืึท ืงืืขืคึผืขืืืงืข ืึท ืืืฉืืชืืืงืข ืืฆืึฟ
ืืื ืึท ืืฆืึฟ ืืืขื ืืืืงื ืืึธ ืืืขืจื ืึท ืืขืฉืื
ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืชืืืช
ืืื ืืึทืงืืง ืื ืืืชืืืช
ืฆืืืืฉื ืืื, ืฆืืืืฉื ืืื
ืึท ืคึฟืืขืื
ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืึธืื ืืขืจืขืื
ืืึทื ืฆื ืึทืืข ืืืชืืืช ืฆืืืึทืืขื
ืืึทื ืฆื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืึทืจืฒึทื
ืขืก ืืื ืืึธ
ืืื ืคึฟืึทืจืึทื
ืืื ืคึฟืึทืจืึทื ืึท ืืืืื
ืืื ืคึฟืึทืจืึทื ืึทื ืึทื ืืขืจืฉืืื
ืฆืืืืฉื ืึท ืืึธื
ืฆืืืืฉื ืึท ืืึทืจื
ืฆืืืืฉื ืึท ืืฒึทื
.
es iz do
es iz do
iz faran
iz faran a tol
iz faran a barg
iz faran a taykh
un ikh bin in sama mitn
a kepedike
a memashushdike matzev
un a matzev vet dafke yo vern a mayseh
ikh zukh di oysyes
ikh bakuk di oysyes
tsvishin zikh, tsvishin zikh
a fleml
un oyb ikh volt geredt
tantsn ale oysyes tsuzamen
tantsn zey in moyl arayn
es iz do
iz faran
iz faran a khilug
iz faran an antersheyd
tsvishin a barg
tsvishin a tol
tsvishin a taykh
.
.
Aliza Greenblatt
translated by Caleb Sher
From a Letter
Today the sun was swallowed up
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย By heavy clouds โ
In my heart a sudden song was sung
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย By seven suns;
Outside whole mountains stand of snow
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย And itโs freezing โ
Yet tenderly my heart was touched
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย By summer.
โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ
Do you want to know how this miracle
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Transpired?…ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
.ย ย ย ย
ืคืื ืึท ืืจืืฐ
ืฉืฐืขืจืข ืฐืึธืืงื ืก ืืึธืื ืืฒื ื ืื ืืื
โ ืคืึทืจืฉืืื ืืขืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
ืืื ืืฒื ืืึทืจืฆื ืืึธืื ืืืื ืืื ืขื ืืื
;ืฆืขืืื ืืขืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
ืืื ืืจืฑืกื ืืืื ืืึทื ืฆืข ืืขืจื ืืื ืฉื ืฒ
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โ ืืื ืขืก ืคืจืืจืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
ืืึธื ืืึธื ืึท ืืืืขืจึพืืขื ืืฒื ืืึทืจืฅ
.ืืึทืจืืจืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ
ืฐืืืกืื ืฐืืกื ืฐื ืก’ืืื ืืขืจ ื ืก
ย …?ืืขืฉืขืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
.
Fun a briv
Shvere volkns hobn haynt di zun
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย farshlungenโ
in mayn hartsn hobn zibn zunen zikh
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย tsezungen;
in droysn lign gantse berg mit shney
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย un es frirtโ
dokh hot a zumer-leb mayn harts
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย barirt.
โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ
Vilstu visn vi sโiz der nes
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย geshen?…
.
.
The Sun Still Shinesโฆ
Come quickly, my dear beloved,
While the sun still shines.
But a few minutes remain,
โTodayโ will soon decline.
The bright-gold goblet stands full,
Filled up with red wine.
Come, drink it down to the last drop,
And let today be consecrated time.
.
…ืื ืืื ื ืึธื ืฉืฒื ื
,ืงืื ืืฑืฃ ืืื, ืื ืืืืขืจ ืืฒื ืขืจ
.ืฐืฒื ืื ืืื ื ืึธื ืฉืฒื ื
,ืก’ืืขื ืขื ืคืึทืจืืืืื ืืืฑื ืืื ืืื
“.ืืึทืื ืคืึทืจืืฒื ืืขืจ โืืฒื ื
,ืฉืืฒื ืืขืจ ืืืึพืืึธืื ืืืก ืึท ืคืืืขืจ
.ืคืื ืืื ืจืฑืื ืฐืฒื
,ืงืื, ืืื ืืจืื ืง ืืฑืก ืืื ืืฒื ืืจืึธืคึผื
.ืืื ืืึธื ืืฒื ื ืืืึพืืื ืืฒื
.
Di Zun Nokh Shayntโฆ
Kum af gikh, du liber mayner,
vayl di zun nokh shaynt.
Sโzenen farblibn bloyz minutn,
bald fargeyt der โhaynt.โ
Shteyt der gin-gold kos a fuler,
ful mit roytn vayn.
Kum, un trink oys biz eyn tropn,
un zol haynt yontef zayn.
.
And Maybe Just?…
Maybe the sun did not shine;
The flower did not bloom,
And I did not write
A love song for you?
And maybe just
Nothing never was?
The waves did not whisper,
The sea did not sigh;
You had not loved me โ
And left me high and dry.
And maybe justโฆ?
.
…?ืืื ืืคืฉืจ ืืึธืจ
;ืืคืฉืจ ืืึธื ืื ืืื ื ืื ืืขืฉืฒื ื
,ืื ืืืื ืืึธื ื ืื ืืขืืืื
ืืื ืืื ืืึธื ื ืื ืืขืฉืจืืื
?ืฆื ืืืจ ืึท ืืืืขึพืืื
ืืื ืืคืฉืจ ืืึธืจ
?ืืื ืืึธืจื ืืฉื ื ืืฉื ืืขืฐืขื
,ืื ืืฐืึทืืืขืก ืืึธืื ื ืื ืืขืืืจืืื
;ืืขืจ ืื ืืึธื ื ืื ืืขืจืฑืฉื
โ ืื ืืึธืกื ืืื ื ืื ืืขืืืื
.ืืื ืืื ืืื ื ืื ืึทื ืืฑืฉื
?…ืืื ืืคืฉืจ ืืึธืจ
.
Un Efsher Gor?…
Efsher hot di zun nit geshaynt;
di blum hot nit geblit,
un ikh hob nit geshribn
tsu dir mayn libe-lid?
Un efsher gor
iz gornisht nisht geven?
Di khvalies hobn nit gemurmlt,
der yam hot nit geroysht;
du host mikh nit gelibtโ
un ikh bin nit antoysht.
Un efsher gor?…
.
Rokhl Korn
translated by Joseph Reisberg
Kheshvn
The fresh, black raised rows of earth
lie humble and tired under the autumnal sun,
like the laboring woman in her childbirth,
who smiles meekly from beneath her pain
and is already prepared to be a mother again.
The crows are convening for the celebration,
strolling with measured, dancing steps,
searching for the excavated worms with their clever black eyes,
and shaking their heads, like old aunts
while they chew pieces of honey cake with their blue gums:
โDonโt worry, itโs just some pain, like the white dew,
and soon you will live to see pride, soon,
even before the swallows come with their sharp tails
to shear the first wool off the spring sky.โ
.
ืืฉืฐื
,ืื ืคึฟืจืืฉืข, ืฉืฐืึทืจืฆืข ืกืงืืืขืก ืขืจื
,ืืืื ืืื ืขืืืืง ืืื ืืื ืึทื ืืงืขืื ืึธืกืืขื ืืืงืขืจ ืืื
,ืฐื ืื ืืขืฐืื ืขืจืื ืก ืืื ืืฒืขืจ ืขืจืฉืืขืจ ืงืืืคึผืขื
ืฐืึธืก ืฉืืฒืืืขื ืฉืืื ืึทืคึฟืขืจ ืคึฟืื ืืฒืขืจ ืฐืฒืืืง
.ืืื ืืขื ืขื ืืจืฒื ืฉืฑื ื ืึธื ืึทืืึธื ืฆื ืฐืขืจื ืืึทืืขืก
,ืขืก ืืขื ืขื ืืื ืฆืื ืฑืคึฟืืขืงืืืขื ืฐืจืึธื ืขืก ืฆื ืืขืจ ืฉืืื
,ืฉืคึผืึทืฆืืจื ืืื ืืขืฆืฒืืืข, ืืขื ืฆืืืืงืข ืฉืจืื
ืืืื ืืื ืฉืฐืึทืจืฆืข, ืงืืืืข ืืฑืื ืื ืืฑืกืืขืืจืึธื’ื ืข ืฐืขืจืื
ืืื ืฉืึธืงืืขื ืืื ืื ืงืขืคึผ, ืฐื ืึทืืืข ืืืืขืก
:ืืฉืขืชื ืงืฒืขื ืฉืืืงืืขื ืืขืงืขื ืืื ืื ืืืึธืข ืืึทืกืืขืก
,ื ืืฉืงืฉื, ืก’ืืื ืืขืจ ืฐืฒืืืง, ืฐื ืื ืฐืฒืกืข ืจืึธืกืข”
,ืืื ืืึทืื ืฐืขืกืื ืืขืจืืขืื ื ืืช, ืืึทืื
ื ืึธื ืืฒืืขืจ ืก’ืฐืขืื ืฉืฐืึทืืื ืืื ืื ืฉืึทืจืคึฟืข ืขืงื
“.ืึธืคึผืฉืขืจื ืื ืขืจืฉืืข ืฐืึธื ืคึฟืื ืคึฟืจืืืื ืืืืงื ืืืื
.
Kheshvn
Di frishe, shvartse skibes erd,
lign hakhnoedik un mid antkegn osiendiker zun,
vi di gevinerins in zeyer ershter kimpet,
vos shmeykhlen shtil afer fun zeyer veytik
un zenen greyt shoyn nokh amol tsu vern mames.
Es zenen zikh tsunoyfgekumen vrones tsu der simkhe,
shpatsirn mit getseylte, tentsldike shrit,
zukhn mit shvartse, kluge oygn di oysgegrobโne verim
un shoklen mit di kep, vi alte mumes
beshasn kayen shtiklekh lekekh mit di bloe yasles:
โNishkoshe, sโiz der veytik, vi di vayse rose,
un bald vestu derlebn nakhes, bald,
nokh eyder sโveln shvalbn mit di sharfe ekn
opshern di ershte vol fun frilingdikn himl.โ
.
I Had Wanted to See Your Mother Once
I had wanted to see your mother once
and kiss her handsโ
likely she would have found you in my eyes
and all your words, which I hid in my gaze
and maybe she would have greeted me
with that smile, quiet, clever,
that always blooms on the lips of mothers,
when their love for a son is confirmed
by other women.
But maybeโ
maybe her look would warn me,
(mothers always know more than other women)
of the wild sorrow
and hard luck
of loving her son.
I had wanted to see your mother once
and kiss her hands.
.
ืืื ืฐืึธืื ืืขืฐืึธืื ืึทืืึธื ืืฒื ืืึทืืขื ืืขื
ืืื ืฐืึธืื ืืขืฐืึธืื ืึทืืึธื ืืฒื ืืึทืืขื ืืขื
โืืื ืืืจ ืงืืฉื ืื ืืขื ื
ืืกืชืื ืฐืึธืื ืื ืืื ืืฒื ืข ืืฑืื ืืื ืืขืคึฟืื ืขื
.ืืื ืึทืืข ืืฒื ืข ืฐืขืจืืขืจ, ืฐืึธืก ื’ืืึธื ืืฑืกืืึทืืึทืืื ืืื ืืฒื ืืืืง
ืืื ืืคืฉืจ ืฐืึธืื ืื ืืืจ ืึทื ืืงืขืื ืืขืงืืืขื
,ืืื ืึท ืฉืืฒืื, ืึท ืฉืืืื, ืึท ืงืืืื
,ืฐืึธืก ืืืื ืชืืื ืืฑืฃ ืืืคึผื ืคึฟืื ืืึทืืขืก
,ืฐืขื ืืฒ ืคึฟืืื ืืึทืฉืืขืืืงื ืืืจื ืึทื ืืขืจืข ืคึฟืจืฑืขื
.ืืฒืขืจ ืืืืข ืฆืื ืืฒืืขื ืขื ืืื
โืืื ืืคืฉืจ ืืึธืจ
,ืืื ืืคืฉืจ ืฐืึธืื ืืื ืืขืฐืึธืจื ื ืืืจ ืืืืง
(ืืึทืืขืก ืฐืฒืกื ืฉืืขื ืืืง ืืขืจ, ืฐื ืึทื ืืขืจืข ืคึฟืจืฑืขื)
ืคึฟืึทืจ ืืขื ืฐืืืื ืฆืขืจ
ืืื ืืขื ืืึทืจืื ืืืืง
.ืฆื ืืืื ืืืจ ืืื
ืืื ืฐืึธืื ืืขืฐืึธืื ืึทืืึธื ืืฒื ืืึทืืขื ืืขื
.ืืื ืืืจ ืงืืฉื ืื ืืขื ื
.
Ikh Volt Gevolt Amol Dayn Mamen Zen
Ikh volt gevolt amol dayn mamen zen
un ir kushn di hentโ
mistome volt zi in mayne oygn dikh gefinen
un ale dayne verter, vos khโhot oysbahaltn in mayn blik.
Un efsher volt zi mir antkegngekumen
mit a shmeykhl, a shtiln, a klugn,
vos blit tomid af di lipn fun mames,
ven zey filn bashtetikt durkh andere froyen,
zeyer libe tsum eygenem zun.
Un efsher gorโ
un efsher volt mikh gevornt ir blik,
(mames veysn shtendik mer, vi andere froyen)
far dem vildn tsar
un dem harbn glik
tsu libn ir zun.
Ikh volt gevolt amol dayn mamen zen
un ir kushn di hent
.
On My Shoes
On my shoes the clay from Bashkir,
from Karakum desert the glowing-hot sand,
the muck of Russian villages and cities,
and the light-gray dust of Uzbek land.
The dried blood of the Polish roads,
the dust and ash of burnt remains,
and the angel hides his face as he guides me
from border to border to this last shore of weeping.
And I still donโt know where I will spend the night
and where my home will be tomorrow,
which distant wanderings will paste
my shoes with blood, with sand, and with clay.
Not long ago I saw the house of my mother,
the trees in the orchard with roots in the airโ
a Russian soldier had sawn them into pieces
for firewood in the quiet orphaned yard.
I also saw the cat with wild eyes,
who still searches for where my mother wentโ
then we were standing right across from each other,
until the soldier chased her away with a rod.
After a while I saw her again on the tip of my roof,
the distant memory of petting in her gaze,
and her back bent upwards,
like she was making a bridge to heaven over an abyss.
On my shoes the clay from Bashkir,
from Karakum desert the glowing-hot sand,
the muck of Russian villages and cities,
and the light-gray dust of Uzbek land.
The dried blood of the Polish roads,
the dust and ash of burnt remains,
and the roads are like silent spouses
to my tired steps in the time of goodbyes.
Nobody has anything more to give,
nobody will say: โMy child, come insideโโ
I am truly a stranger everywhere and my only home
is my motherโs last cry.
1946
.
ืืฑืฃ ืืฒื ืข ืฉืื
,ืืฑืฃ ืืฒื ืข ืฉืื ืคึฟืื ืืึทืฉืงืืจืืขื ืืึธืก ืืฒื
,ืคึฟืื ืงืึทืจืึทืงืืึพืืืืจ ืืขืจ ืืืึพืืฒืกืขืจ ืืึทืื
,ืื ืืืึธืืข ืคึฟืื ืจืืกืืฉืข ืืขืจืคึฟืขืจ ืืื ืฉืืขื
.ืืื ืืขืจ ืืขืึพืืจืึธืขืจ ืฉืืฑื ืคึฟืื ืืืืืขืงืืฉื ืืึทื ื
,ืืึธืก ืคึฟืึทืจืืจืืงื ืืข ืืืื ืคึฟืื ืื ืคึผืฑืืืฉืข ืฐืขืื
,ืืขืจ ืฉืืฑื ืืื ืืึธืก ืึทืฉ ืคึฟืื ืคึฟืึทืจืืจืขื ืื ืืขืืฒื
ืืื ืก’ืคึฟืึทืจืฉืืขืื ืืื ืืฒื ืคึผื ืื ืืขืจ ืืืื, ืฐืึธืก ืคึฟืืจื
.ืืื ืคึฟืื ืืจืขื ืืฅ ืฆื ืืจืขื ืืฅ ืฆืื ืืจืขื ืคึฟืื ืืขืฐืฒื
,ืืื ื’ืฐืฒืก ื ืึธื ื ืืฉื ืึทืืฅ, ืฐืึผ ื’ืฐืขื ื ืขืืืืงื ืืฒื ื
,ืืื ืฐืึผ ืก’ืฐืขื ืืฒื ืืึธืจืื ืืฒื ืืฒื
ืฐืึผ ืฐืขื ืืื ืืึทืงืืขืื ืืฑืฃ ืฐืฒืืขืจื ืฐืึทื ืืขืจ
.ืืฒื ืข ืฉืื ืืื ืืืื, ืืื ืืึทืื ืืื ืืื ืืฒื
,ื’ืืึธื ืืขืืขื ืืึธ ื ืืฉื ืืึทื ื ืื ืฉืืื ืคึฟืื ืืฒื ืืึทืืขื
– ืื ืืฒืืขืจ ืืื ืกืึธื ืืื ืื ืฐืึธืจืฆืืขื ืึทืจืฑืฃ
ืขืก ืืึธื ืืฒ ืฆืขืืขืื ืึท ืจืืกืืฉืขืจ ืืขืื ืขืจ
.ืืฑืฃ ืืึธืืฅ ืืื ืืขื ืฉืืืื ืคึฟืึทืจืืชืืืื ืืฑืฃ
,ื’ืืึธื ืืขืืขื ืืฑื ืื ืงืึทืฅ ืืื ืคึฟืึทืจืฐืืืืขืจืืข ืืฑืื
– ืฐืึธืก ืืืื ืืึธืจื ื ืึธื ืึทืืฅ ืคึฟืื ืืฒื ืืึทืืขื ืื ืืจืื
,ืืขื ืขื ืืืจ ืืึทื ืืขืฉืืึทื ืขื ืืฒื ืข ืงืขืื ืืขืจ ืฆืฐืฒืืขืจ
.ืืื ืก’ืืึธื ืื ืืขืจ ืืขืื ืขืจ ืคึฟืึทืจืืึธืื ืืื ืึท ืจืื
,ื’ืืึธื ืืขืืขื ืื ื ืึธื ืืึทื ื ืืฑืคึฟื ืฉืคึผืืฅ ืคึฟืื ืขื ืืึทื
,ืก’ืืึธื ืฐืฒืืข ืืขืจืืื ืื ื ืืขืืืื ืืื ืืืจ ืืืืง
,ืืื ืก’ืืึธื ืืื ืืืจ ืจืืงื ืืขืืฑืื ืึทืจืฑืฃ
.ืฐื ืืืืขืจ ืึทื ืึธืคึผืืจืื ื ืฆืื ืืืื ืื ืืจืืง
,ืืฑืฃ ืืฒื ืข ืฉืื ืคึฟืื ืืึทืฉืงืืจืืขื ืืึธืก ืืฒื
,ืคึฟืื ืงืึทืจืึทืงืืึพืืืืจ ืืขืจ ืืืึพืืฒืกืขืจ ืืึทืื
,ืื ืืืึธืืข ืคึฟืื ืจืืกืืฉืข ืืขืจืคึฟืขืจ ืืื ืฉืืขื
.ืืื ืืขืจ ืืขืึพืืจืึธืขืจ ืฉืืฑื ืคึฟืื ืืืืืขืงืืฉื ืืึทื ื
,ืืึธืก ืคึฟืึทืจืืจืืงื ืืข ืืืื ืคึฟืื ืื ืคึผืฑืืืฉืข ืฐืขืื
,ืืขืจ ืฉืืฑื ืืื ืืึธืก ืึทืฉ ืคึฟืื ืคึฟืึทืจืืจืขื ืื ืืขืืฒื
ืืื ืก’ืืขื ืขื ืื ืฐืขืื, ืฐื ืฉืืืืข ืืืฐืืื
.ืฆื ืืจืื ืืฒื ืข ืืืืข ืืื ืฆืฒื ืคึฟืื ืคึฟืึทืจืืฒื
,ืก’ืืื ืืขืจ ืงืฒื ืขืจ ื ืืฉืืึธ ืืึธืก ืืขืืฒื ืืืจ ืฆื ืืขืื
โ “ืก’ืฐืขื ืงืฒื ืขืจ ื ืืฉื ืืึธืืื “ืืฒื ืงืื ื, ืงืื ืึทืจืฒื
ื’ืืื ืืึธื ืคึฟืจืขืื ืืืืขืืื ืืื ืืฒื ืืฒื ืฆืืงืข ืืฒื
.ืืื ืืฒื ืืึทืืขืก ืืขืฆืืข ืืขืฐืฒื
1946
.
Af Mayne Shikh
Af mayne shikh fun bashkirien dos leym,
fun karakum-midber der gli-heyser zamd,
di blote fun rusishe derfer un shtet,
un der hel-groer shtoyb fun uzbekishn land.
Dos fartruknte blut fun di poylishe vegn,
der shtoyb un dos ash fun farbrentn gebeyn,
un sโfarshtelt zikh zayn ponim der malekh, vos firt
mikh fun grenits tsu grenits tsum breg fun geveyn.
Un khโveys nokh nisht alts, vu khโvel nekhtikn haynt
un vu sโvet zayn morgn mayn heym,
vu vel ikh baklebn af vaytern vander
mayne shikh mit blut, mit zamd un mit leym.
Khโhob gezen do nisht lang di shtub fun mayn mamen,
di beymer in sod mit di vortslen aroyfโ
es hot zey tsezegt a rusisher zelner
af holts in dem shtiln faryosemtn hoyf.
Khโhob gezen oykh di kats mit farvilderte oygn,
vos zukht dort nokh alts fun mayn mamen di tritโ
zenen mir dan geshtanen eyne kegn der tsveyter,
biz sโhot zi der zelner faryogt mit a rut.
Khโhob gezen zi nokh lang afn shpits funem dakh,
sโhot vayte dermanung geglit in ir blik,
un sโhot zikh ir rukn geboygn aroyf,
vi iber an opgrunt tsum himl di brik.
Af mayne shikh fun bashkirien dos leym,
fun karakum-midber der gli-heyser zamd,
di blote fun rusishe derfer un shtet,
un der hel-groer shtoyb fun uzbekishn land.
Dos fartruknte blut fun di poylishe vegn,
der shtoyb un dos ash fun farbrentn gebeyn,
un sโzenen di vegn, vi shtume zivgim
tsu trit mayne mide in tsayt fun fargeyn.
Sโiz mer keyner nishto dos gelayt mir tsu gebn,
sโvet keyner nisht zogn: โMayn kind, kum araynโโ
khโbin dokh fremd umetum un mayn eyntsike heym
iz mayn mames letste geveyn.
1946
.
Abraham Nahum Stencl
translated by Jordan Lee Schnee
[my heart is a pit]
my heart is a pit
a colorless deep pit,
I risk myself in its depths
its deepest depths,
harvesting coral there
harvesting
and tossing it out
into the world…
rampant!
rampant!
giant red coral!
rampant!
rampant!
come and grasp
giant red coral!
pull thread too,
and pull a thread for me,
a tiny little thread…
rampant!
rampant!
my heart is a pit;
coral-choked,
coral-rootedโโ
pull a thread for me!
I must go back with my sharpened knives
back down,
back down…
.
[ืก’ืืื ืื ’ืืคืืจืื ื ืืฒื ืืืจืฅ]
ืก’ืืื ืื ’ืืคืืจืื ื ืืฒื ืืืจืฅ
,ื ืคืืจืืึพืืืืขืจ ืืืคืขืจ ืืคืืจืื ื
ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืฒื ืข ืืืคืขื ืืฉื
,ืืื ืืกืจืชึพื ืคืฉ
,ืืื ืืฒื ืข ืืืคืกืืข ืืืคืขื ืืฉื
,ืืื ืจืฒืก ืงืืจืืืขื ืืืจื
,ืจืฒืก ืงืืจืืืขื
…ืืื ืฐืืจืฃ ืืื ืฐืขืื ืืฒ ืึทืจืฒื
!ืืคืงืจ
!ืืคืงืจ
!ืืจืฑืกืข, ืจืฑืืข ืงืืจืืืขื
!ืืคืงืจ
!ืืคืงืจ
ืงืืืืืฉืข ืงืืฑืื
!ืืจืฑืกืข, ืจืฑืืข ืงืืจืืืขื
,ืฆืืื ืืฒื ืฉื ืืจืืขื
,ืืื ืฆืืื ื ืฉื ืืจื ืืฑื ืคืืจ ืืืจ
…ื ืงืืฒื ืืฉืืง, ืงืืฒื ืืฉืืง ืฉื ืืจืขืืข
!ืืคืงืจ
!ืืคืงืจ
;ืก’ืืื ืื ’ืืคืืจืื ื ืืฒื ืืืจืฅ
,ื ืงืืจืืืขืึพืคืืจืฆืฐืฒืืืขืจ
โ โื ืงืืจืืืขืึพืคืืจืฐืืืจืฆืืืข
!ืฆืืื ื ืฉื ืืจื ืืฑื ืคืืจ ืืืจ
ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืฒื ืข ืืขืฉืืจืคืืข ืืขืกืขืจืก
,ืฐืืืขืจ ื ืืืขืจื
…ืฐืืืขืจ ื ืืืขืจื
.
[sโiz anโopgrunt mayn harts]
sโiz anโopgrunt mayn harts,
a farbn-lozer tifer opgrunt,
ikh loz mikh in zayne tifenishn
mit meseres-nefesh,
in zayne tifste tifenishn,
un rays koralen dort,
rays koralen,
un varf in velt zey araynโฆ
hefker!
hefker!
groyse, royte koralen!
hefker!
hefker!
kumtzhe kloybn
groyse, royte koralen!
tsit aykh shnirlekh,
un tsit a shnirl oykh far mir,
a kleyntshik, kleyntshik shnirele,
hefker!
hefker!
sโiz anโopgrunt mayn harts;
a koralen-fartsvaygter,
a koralen-farvortslterโ โ
tsit a shnirl oykh far mir!
ikh muz mit mayne gesharfte mesers
vider nidern,
vider nidernโฆ
.
[after midnight]
after midnight
take a walk with the moon;
look thru the thin gaps in shutters
into the stale-aired human cages;
lookโโ
your face will shrivel, just like theirs;
like theirsโ
yours will go pale;
you will hunt for clouds,
the blackest, the thickest,
closing yourself inside of them,
finding refuge where you can!
before the morning stars arrive,
gouge out your eyes,
like the moon
your eyes gouged outโ
so that when itโs daytime you see no one.
.
ื
[ืืื ื ืื ืืืืืข ื ืืื]
ืืื ื ืื ืืืืืข ื ืืื
;ืืื ืื ืืื ื ื ืฉืคึผืืฆืืจ
ืงืืง ืืืจื ืืื ืข ืืืืึพืฉืคึผืืืื
;ืืื ืื ืคืืจืืืืคึผืขืฆืืข ืืขื ืืฉืึพืฉืืฒืื
โ โ ืงืืง
;ืฐื ืืืจ ืคึผื ืื, ืฐืขื ืืฒื ืก ืืื ืฉืจืืืคึผื
โ ืฐื ืืืจืก
;ืืฒื ืก ืืืืก ืฐืขืจื
,ืฐืขืกื ืฐืืืงื ืก ืืืื
,ืฉืฐืืจืฆืขืกืืข ืืื ืืืงืกืืข
โ ืฆื ืืืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืฒ
!ื ืืงืืึพืืงืื ืขืจืืขืฅ ืืืืฉ ืืขืคืื ืขื
,ืฐืขืกื ืคืืจื ืืืจืืึพืฉืืขืจื ืก ืงืืืขื
,ืืฒื ืข ืืฑืื ืืฑืกืืจืืืฉื
ืฐื ืื ืืื ื
โ ืืฒื ืข ืืฑืื ืืฑืกืืจืืืฉื
.ืื ืืขื ืืฉื ืก ืืฒ ืืื ื ืืฉื ืฆื ืืจืขืคื
.
[makh nokh halbe nakht]
makh nokh halbe nakht
mit di levone a shpatsir;
kuk durkh dine lodn-shpaltn
in di fardumpetste mentshn-shtaygn;
kuk โ โ
vi ir ponim, vet dayns shrumpn;
vi irs โ โ
dayns blas vern;
vest volkns zukhn,
shvartseste un dikste,
tsu bahaltn dikh in zey โ
a mokem-miklet ergets khotsh gefinen!
vest farn morgn-shterns kumen,
dayne oygn oysgratshn,
vi di levone
dayne oygn oysgratshn โ
di mentshns bay tog nisht tsu trefn.
.
[the whole world modeling for me]
the whole world modeling for me,
clothes off,
naked,
and I havenโt got a leaf to cover its sex.
leaves all wither!โโ
the naked world modeling for meโ
veins writhe, green and poisonous
balled-up muscles,
billions upon billions of facesโ
exhausted,
broken,
leaden,
going baldโโ
foreheads caving inโโ
the whole world modeling for me,
naked,
and I fall on top of it
to spread open its sex
โโโโโโโโโโโโโ
.
[ืฉืืฒื ืืื ืฆืข ืฐืขืื ืืืืขื ืคืืจ ืืืจ]
,ืฉืืฒื ืืื ืฆืข ืฐืขืื ืืืืขื ืคืืจ ืืืจ
,ืื ืืฑืกืืขืืืขื ืข
,ื ื ืืงืขืืข
ืืื ืืื ืืื ืงืฒื ืืืื, ืืืจ ืขืจืฐื ืฆื ืคืืจืืขืงื
โ โ !ืืืข ืืืขืืขืจ ืฐืืื ืขื
โ ืฉืืฒื ื ืืงืขืืข ืฐืขืื ืืืืขื ืคืืจ ืืืจ
,ืืจืื ืืื ืืืคืืืง ืงืืจืืฉืขื ืืื ืืืขืจื
,ืืืกืงืืขื ืคืฑืกืื ืืื
โ ืืืืืืจืื, ืืืืืืจืื ืืืืงื
,ืืฑืกืืขืืืฉืืข
,ืฆืขืืจืืืขื ืข
ืฆืขืืฒืืืข
โ โ ืืื ืื ืืืืฆืข ืฐืืงืกื
โ โ ืืื ืืขืจ ืฉืืขืจื ืงืืจืื
,ืฉืืฒื ืืื ืฆืข ืฐืขืื ืืืืขื ืคืืจ ืืืจ
,ื ื ืืงืขืืข
โ โ ืืื ืืื ืืื ืฆืืืขืคืืื ืฆื ืืคืขื ืข ืขืจืฐื ืืืจืข
โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ
.
[shteyt gantse velt model far mir]
shteyt gantse velt model far mir,
an oysgetuene,
a nakete,
un ikh hob keyn blat, ir erve tsu fardekn
ale bleter vianen! โ โ
shteyt nakete velt model far mir โ
grin un giftik kurtshen zikh odern,
musklen foystn zikh,
miliardn, miliardn blikn โ
oysgemishte,
tsebrokhene,
tsebaylte
un di glatse vakst โ โ
un der shtern karbt โ โ
shteyt gantse velt model far mir,
a nakete,
un ikh lig tsugefaln tsu ofene erve ire โ
โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ
.
Leyzer Volf
translated by Roberta Newman
Why?
Why does a dog bay at the moon?โ
Because he thinks: Itโs a red round of cheese.
Why does a teacher beat the children?โ
Because they donโt know their abcโs.
Why do the stars fall from the sky?โ
Because God has let them down.
Why do they chop down the trees?โ
So the animals will come into town.
1934
.
?ืคืึทืจืฐืึธืก
โ ?ืคืึทืจืฐืึธืก ืืืื ืึท ืืื ื ืืฑืฃ ืืขืจ ืืื ื
.ืฐืฒื ืขืจ ืืฒื ืื ืก’ืืื ืึท ืจืฑื ืฉืืืงื ืคืืฒืฉ
โ ?ืคืึทืจืฐืึธืก ืฉืืึธืื ืึท ืืืื ืื ืงืื ืืขืจ
.ืฐืฒื ืืฒ ืงืขื ืขื ื ืื ืงืฒื ื”ื
โ ?ืคืึทืจืฐืึธืก ืคืึทืื ืึทืจืึธืคึผ ืื ืฉืืขืจื
.ืฐืฒื ืก’ืืื ืืฒ ืืืืขืืืง ืืื ืืึธื
โ ?ืคืึทืจืฐืึธืก ืืึทืงื ืืขื ืืฑืก ืื ืฐืขืืืขืจ
.ืื ืืืืช ืืึธืื ืงืืืขื ืืื ืฉืืึธื
Farvos?
Farvos bilt a hunt af der levone โ
vayl er meynt: sโiz a royt shtikl fleysh.
Farvos shlogt a melamed di kinder? โ
vayl zey kenen nit keyn alefbeys.
Farvos faln arop di shtern?โ
vayl sโiz zey umetik mit got.
Farvos hakt men oys di velder? โ
di khayes zoln kumen in shtot.
.
.
Here, the tableโฆ
Here is life:
Here, the table,
Here, the night.
Here, the never-ending letter,
Written by the spheres;
An entire life hides, sometimes,
In two tiny little tears.
Here is life:
Here, the girl,
Here, the tree,
Here, the red apples
On branches, juicy and fresh;
Our souls fill only a small space
In our bodies, these cages of flesh.
Here is life:
The shadow on the grass,
And the green, grassy hills,
Where we lie and take breaks;
We shatter easily, like a glass in a storm,
And everything we do is a dark mistake.
1936
.
…ืึธื ืืขืจ ืืืฉ
ืึธื ืืื ืืึธืก ืืขืืื
,ืึธื ืืขืจ ืืืฉ
,ืึธื ืื ื ืึทืื
,ืึธื ืืขืจ ืืืืขืื ืืขืืขืจ ืืจืืฐ
;ืฐืึธืก ืขืก ืฉืจืฒืื ืื ืฉืืขืจื
ืึท ืืึทื ืฅ ืืขืื ืืึทืืึทืื ืืื ืึทืืึธื
.ืืื ืฆืฐืฒ ืงืืฒื ืข ืืจืึธืคึผื ืก ืืจืขืจื
ืึธื ืืื ืืึธืก ืืขืืื
,ืึธื ืืึธืก ืืฒืื
.ืึธื ืืขืจ ืืฑื
ืึธื ืื ืจืฑืืข ืขืคึผื
;ืืฑืฃ ืืึทืคืืืงืข ืฆืฐืฒืื
,ืื ื ืฉืืืช ืืฒื ืขื ืึท ืืืกืขืืข ืจืฑื
.ืืื ืืื ืืืขืจืข ืืืคืื โ ืื ืคืืฒืฉืืงืข ืฉืืฒืื
ืึธื ืืื ืืึธืก ืืขืืื
,ืืขืจ ืฉืึธืื ืืฑืคื ืืจืึธื
,ืืื ืื ืืจืื ืข ืืขืจืืืขื
;ืืื ืฐืขืืืข ืืืจ ืจืืขื
,ืืืจ ืืจืขืื ืืื ืืฒืื, ืฐื ืืื ืฉืืืจืขื ืึท ืืืึธื
.ืืื ืืื ืงืขืืข ืืขืืช ืืื ืึทืืฅ, ืฐืึธืก ืืืจ ืืืขื
Ot der tishโฆ
Ot iz dos lebn:
ot der tish,
ot di nakht,
ot der umendlekher briv,
vos es shraybn di shtern;
a gants leben bahalt zikh amol
in tsvey kleyne tropns trern.
Ot iz dos lebn:
ot dos meydl,
ot der boym,
ot di royte epl
af zaftike tsvaygn;
di neshomes zaynen a bisele roym,
in unzere gufim โ di fleyshike shtaygn.
Ot iz dos lebn:
der shotn afn groz,
un di grine berglekh,
in velkhe mir ruen;
mir brekhn zikh laykht, vi in shturem a gloz,
un tunkele toes is alts, vos mir tuen.
.
.
This is Paris
Do you know what this is?
Hugo on a cornice,
and on a tower, in the air
a belly hot and bare.
On a bench in the park
sits a pair jaundiced, gaunt.
The weatherโs cool. They kiss
with holes in their soles.
Do you know what this is?
This, Madame, is Paris.
And down below lie the people
sleeping, huddling by the Seine.
From far away on the sea:
the cold gentleman.
The evening in the cafรฉ,
the revenue of rentiers,
pleasure at the cabaret
and death, Monsieur.
Do you know what this is?
The citizens catch fish.
The mother was ravished,
the husband is in Parliament.
Their daughter lives with him,
sold for ten centimes.
Their son is a radical
and he reads Lasalle.
Do you know what this is?
This, Monsieur, is Paris.
And down below lie the people.
Who havenโt got a chance.
The orange trees are juicy
in the province of Provence.
They both spoil in the marketplace,
the woman and the produce
the sharp-witted showpiece
of the worldโs losing game.
And the money, the money
is only in the Banque de France.
Do you know what this is?
A painted paradise.
The artist on the street,
the sun in a vault,
and the poetry โ ice cold
beamed out on the asphalt.
The narrow winding alleys,
the peoples without tally.
Do you know what this is?
This is, mon cher, Paris.
And down below lie the people,
mesmerized and trampled,
lulled to sleep and impoverished.
Itโs nighttime. Desire shells out
for love in La Manche.
The waiter asks for an advance,
the labor in the metro
hoists up the flag of flame.
The red hour strikes, Madame.
1937
.
ืืึธืก ืืื ืคึผืึทืจืื
โ ?ืฆื ืฐืฒืกืื ืฐืึธืก ืืึธืก ืืื
ืืืืึธ ืืฑืฃ ืึท ืงืึทืจื ืื
โ ืืื ืืฑืคื ืืืจืขื ืืฑื
โ ืึท ื ืึทืงืขืึพืืฒืกืขืจ ืืฑื
โ ืืื ืืึธืจืื ืืฑืฃ ืึท ืืึทื ืง
.ืึท ืคึผืึธืจื ืืขื ืืื ืฉืืึทื ืง
,ืก’ืืื ืงืื, ืืฒ ืงืืฉื ืืื
โ ,ืืื ืืขืืขืจ ืคืื ืื ืฉืื
โ ?ืฆื ืฐืฒืกืื ืฐืึธืก ืืึธืก ืืื
.ืืึธืก ืืื, ืืึทืืึทื, ืคึผืึทืจืื
ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืื ืืึธืก ืคืึธืืง
,ืืขืืฑืงืขืจื ืืฒ ืืขืจ ืกืขื
โ ืคืื ืฐืฒืื ืืฑืคื ืื
,ืืขืจ ืงืึทืืืขืจ ืืืฉืขื ืืืืขื
,ืืขืจ ืึธืฐื ื ืืื ืงืึทืคืข
,ืื ืงืึทืคืข ืืฒ ืจืึทื ืืืข
ืื ืืืกื ืืื ืงืึทืืึทืจืข
.ืืื ืืขืจ ืืฑื, ืืขืกืืข
โ ?ืฆื ืฐืฒืกืื ืฐืึธืก ืืึธืก ืืื
,ืื ืืืจืืขืจ ืืึทืคึผื ืคืืฉ
,ืื ืืืืขืจ ืืื ืืขืฉืขื ืื
,ืืขืจ ืืึทื ืืื ืคึผืึทืจืืึทืืขื ื
ืื ืืึธืืืขืจ ืืื ืืฒ ืืื
,ืคืึทืจืงืฑืคื ืคืึทืจ ืฆืขื ืกืึธื ืืื
ืืขืจ ืืื ืืื ืจืึทืืืงืึทื
โ ืืื ืขืจ ืฉืืืืืจื ืืึทืกืึทื
โ ?ืฆื ืฐืฒืกืื ืฐืึธืก ืืึธืก ืืื
.ืืึธืก ืืื, ืืขืกืืข, ืคึผืึทืจืื
ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืื ืืึธืก ืคึฟืึธืืง
,ืืื ืืึธื ื ืืฉื ืงืฒื ืฉืื ืฉืื ืก
ืขืก ืืืื ืืขืจ ืึทืคึผืขืืกืื
,ืืื ืืขืจ ืคึผืจืึธืฐืื ืฅ ืคึผืจืึธืฐืึทื ืก
ืขืก ืคืฑืื ืืฑืฃ ืื ืืขืจืง
,ืื ืคืจืฑ ืืื ืืขืจ ืึธืจืึทื ืืฉ
ืื ืฉืึทืจืคืืื ืืงืข ืฐืขืจืง
,ืคืื ืึท ืคืึทืจืฉืคึผืืืืขืจ ืฐืขืื
ืืื ืืึธืก ืืขืื, ืืึธืก ืืขืื
“.ืืื ืืืฑื ืืื “ืืึทื ืง ืืข ืคืจืึทื ืก
?ืฆื ืฐืฒืกืื ืฐืึธืก ืืึธืก ืืื
,ืึท ืคืึทืจืืึพืคึผืึทืจืึทืืื
,ืื ืงืื ืกืืืขืจ ืืฑืฃ ืืขืจ ืืึทืก
,ืื ืืื ืืื ืึท ืืึทืจืึทืืฉ
ืืื ืื ืคึผืึธืขืืืข ืงืึทืื
,ืฆืขืฉืืจืึทืื ืืฑืฃ ืืขื ืึทืกืคืึทืื
,ืื ืืขืกืืขื ืืขื ืขื ืฉืืึธื
โ ืื ืคืขืืงืขืจ ืึธื ืึท ืฆืึธื
?ืฆื ืฐืฒืกืื ืฐืึธืก ืืึธืก ืืื
.ืืึธืก ืืื, ืืึธื ืงืขืจ, ืคึผืึทืจืื
ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืื ืืึธืก ืคืึธืืง
,ืฆืขืืจืึธืื ืืื ืึทื ืืฆืืงื
.ืืขืึธืจืขืื ืืื ืคืึทืจืฐืืื
,ืก’ืืื ื ืึทืื, ืื ืชึผืืฐื ืฆืึธืื
,ืื ืืืืข ืืื ืืึท ืืึทื ืฉ
,ืืขืจ ืงืขืื ืขืจ ืืขื ืึทืฐืึทื ืก
ืื ืึทืจืืขื ืืื ืืขืืจืึธ
,ืืฑืื ืืฑืฃ ืื ืคืึธื ืคืื ืคืืึทื
!ืขืก ืฉืืึธืื ืื ืจืฑืืข ืฉืขื, ืืึทืืึทื
Dos iz pariz
Tsi veystu vos dos iz? โ
hugo af a karniz
un afn turem hoykh โ
a naket-heyser boykh;
in gortn af a bank โ
a porl gel un shlank.
Sโiz kil, zey kushn zikh.
Mit lekher ful di shikh, โ
tsi veystu vos dos iz? โ
dos iz, madam, pariz.
Un untn ligt dos folk
gehoykert bay der sen,
fun vaytn afn yam โ
der kalter dzhentlmen,
der ovnt in kafe,
di kafe bay rantie,
di lust in kabare
un der toyt, mesie.
Tsi veystu vos dos iz? โ
di birger khapn fish,
di muter iz geshendt,
der man in parlament,
di tokhter iz bay im
farkoyft far tsen sontim,
der zun iz radikal
un er shtudirt lasal โ
tsi veystu vos dos iz? โ
dos iz, mesie, pariz.
Un untn ligt dos folk
un hot nisht keyn shum shans.
Es blit der apelsin
in der provints provans.
Es foyln af di merk
di froy un der oranzh,
di sharfzinike verk
fun a farshpilter velt,
un dos gelt, dos gelt
iz bloyz in โbank de frans.โ
Tsi veystu vos dos iz?
A farbn-paradiz,
di kinstler af der gas,
di zun in a garazh,
un di poezie kalt
tseshtralt af dem asfalt,
di geslekh zenen shmol,
di felker on a tsol โ
tsi veystu vos dos iz?
Dos iz, mon ker, pariz.
Un untn ligt dos folk
tsetrotn un antsikt,
georemt un farvigt.
Sโiz nakht. Di tayve tsolt.
Di libe iz la mansh,
der kelner bet avans,
di arbet in metro
hoybt af di fon fun flam,
es shlogt di royte sho, madam!
.
,
.
Rajzel Zychlinsky
translated by Susan Cohen
Miracle
Strange the people
who are riding in trains.
Their facesโ
white spots of moonsโ
awake the sadness
of internal, distant lands
and vanish
as if they never had been.
And only the rails, which slice through
the sands in the heavens,
know
that every face is a miracle
and that the miracle
can happen again.
,
ื ืก
,ืคึฟืจืขืื ืืืื ืขื ืืขื ืืฉื
.ืฐืึธืก ืคึฟืึธืจื ืืื ืฆืืื
โืืืืขืจืข ืคึผื ืืืขืจ
โืคึฟืืขืงื ืฐืืืืข ืคึฟืื ืืื ืืช
ืฐืขืงื ืืฑืฃ ืืขื ืืจืฑืขืจ
ืคึฟืื ืืื ืขืฐืืื ืืงืกืืข ืืจืืงืื
ืืื ืคึฟืึทืจืฉืฐืื ืื
.ืฐื ืงืืื ืืึธื ื ืืฉื ืืขืฐืขื
ืืื ื ืึธืจ ืื ืจืขืืกื, ืฐืึธืก ืฉื ืืืื ืืืจื
,ืื ืืึทืืื ืืื ืื ืืืืืขื
,ืฐืืืกื
,ืึทื ืืขืืขืก ืคึผื ืื ืืื ืึท ื ืก
ืืื ืึทื ืืขืจ ื ืก
.ืงืขื ื ืึธื ืึท ืืึธื ืืขืฉืขื
.
Nes
Fremd zaynen mentshen,
vos forn in tsugn.
Zeyere penimerโ
flekn vayte fun levonesโ
vekn uf dem troyer,
fun ineveynikste merkhakim
un farshvindn
vi keyn mol nisht geven.
Un nor di relsn, vos shnaydn durkh
di zamdn in di himlen,
veysn,
az yedes ponim iz a nes,
un az der nes
ken nokh a mol geshen.
.
Warsaw 1939
The night is cold and white.
From the north the great ice
creeps.
The land is dead.
Itโs extinguished in the glazed eyes
of dying horses,
in the last flames from burning houses.
The final soldier
has unstrapped his sword
and fallen with his face to the earth.
The enemy enters with heavy steps.
The enemy thunders with merciless teethโ
It shall happen!
It shall be!!!
___
And a dove meets up with a dog,
at the belly of a dead horseโ
people have already devoured the hind flanks.
A blind cat left homeless by fire
cries heart-rending criesโ
but no-one hears her
in the cityโ
no one hears her.
.
ืฐืึทืจืฉืข 1939
.ืื ื ืึทืื ืืื ืงืึทืื ืืื ืฐืืืก
ืคึฟืื ืฆืคึฟืื ืจืืงื ืืื ืึธื
.ืืึธืก ืืจืืืกืข ืืืื
.ืืึธืก ืืึทื ื ืืื ืืฑื
ืก’ืืื ืืฑืกืืขืืึทื ืืขื ืืื ืคึฟืึทืจืืืืืืืข ืืฑืื
,ืคึฟืื ืฉืืึทืจืื ืืืงืข ืคึฟืขืจื
.ืืื ืืขืฆืืข ืคึฟืืึทืืขื ืคึฟืื ืืจืขื ืขื ืืืงืข ืืืืืขืจ
ืืขืจ ืขืฆืืขืจ ืืขืื ืขืจ
ืืึธื ืืฑืกืืขืืึธื ืืืื ืฉืฐืขืจื
.ืืื ืืขืคึฟืึทืื ืืืื ืคึผื ืื ืฆื ืืขืจ ืขืจื
,ืืขืจ ืฉืื ื ืืจืขื ืึทืจืืื ืืื ืฉืฐืขืจืข ืืจืื
โ ืืขืจ ืฉืื ื ืืื ืขืจื ืืื ืืึทืจืืข ืฆืืื
!ืขืก ืืึธื ืืขืฉืขื
!!!ืขืก ืืึธื ืืืื
โ โ โ โ โ โ
ืืื ืึท ืืฑื ืืื ืึท ืืื ื ืืจืขืคึฟื ืืื
โ ืืืื ืืฑื ืคึฟืื ืึท ืืฑืื ืคึฟืขืจื
.ืืขืจ ืืื ืื ืืึธืื ืฉืฑื ืืขื ืืฉื ืืฑืคึฟืืขืืขืกื
,ืึท ืืืื ืืข ืึธืคึผืืขืืจืขื ืืข ืงืึทืฅ
โ ืฐืืื ื ืืึธืืขืจืืขื ืืื ืฐืืื ื
ื ืึธืจ ืก’ืืขืจื ืื ืงืืื ืขืจ ื ืืฉื
โ ,ืืื ืืขืจ ืฉืืึธื
.ื ืึธืจ ืก’ืืขืจื ืื ืงืืื ืขืจ ื ืืฉื
.
Varshe 1939
Di nakht iz kalt un vays.
Fun tsofn rukt zikh on
dos greyse ayz.
Dos land iz toyt.
Sโiz oysgegangen in farglayzte oygn
fun shtarbndike ferd,
in letste flamen fun brenendike hayzer.
Der letster zelner
hot oysgeton zayn shverd
un gefaln mitn ponim tsu der erd.
Der soyne tret arayn mit shvere trit,
der soyne dunert mit harte tseynโ
es zol geshen!
Es zol zayn!!!
โ โ โ โ โ โ
Un a toyb mit a hunt trefn zikh
baym boykh fun a toytn ferdโ
der hintn hobn shoyn mentshn ufgegesn.
A blinde opgebrente kats,
veynt yomerlekh un veyntโ
nor sโhert zi keyner nisht
in der shtot,โ
nor sโhert zi keyner nisht.
.
My Sister
My sister brings fish and meat
home from the market.
She plucks the eyes from the fish.
With thin fingers she probes the fat
in the meatโ
my sister with the sharp teeth.
Only when, behind the chimneys,
behind the roofs,
the sun setsโ
a strange and golden fan
extinguishing itself, going out
on the walls,
on the floorโ
does my sister turn her face:
Now her eyes are dark as beer,
the red ribbons in her daughterโs hair
blooming in the duskโ
wild mushrooms.
Toadstools!
My sister grabs a shawl for her shoulders,
runs outโaway,
and no one knows where.
.
ืืืื ืฉืฐืขืกืืขืจ
ืืืื ืฉืฐืขืกืืขืจ ืืจืขื ืื ืคึฟืื ืืึทืจืง ืึทืืืื
.ืคึฟืืฉ ืืื ืคึฟืืืืฉ
,ืื ื ืขืื ืึทืจืฑืก ืื ืืฑืื ืืื ืื ืคึฟืืฉ
ืืื ืืื ืข ืคึฟืื ืืขืจ ืืจืึทืคึผื ืื ืืึธืก ืคึฟืขืืก
โ ,ืืฑืคึฟื ืคึฟืืืืฉ
.ืืืื ืฉืฐืขืกืืขืจ ืืื ืื ืฉืึทืจืคึฟืข ืฆืืื
,ื ืึธืจ ืฐืขื ืืื ืืขืจ ืงืฑืืขื ืก
ืืื ืืขืจ ืืขืืขืจ
,ืคึฟืึทืจืืืื ืื ืืื
ืึท ืคึฟืจืขืืืขืจ ืืื ืืึธืืืขื ืขืจ ืคึฟืขืืขืจ
ืืขืฉื ืืื, ืืืื ืืฑืก
,ืืฑืฃ ืื ืฐืขื ื
โ ,ืืฑืฃ ืืขื ืืื
:ืืจืืื ืืืื ืฉืฐืขืกืืขืจ ืืฑืก ืืึธืก ืคึผื ืื
.ืืื ืงื ืืืื ืขื ืืืฆื ืืืจืข ืืฑืื, ืฐื ืืืจ
ืื ืจืฑืืข ืืขื ืืขืจ ืืื ืืืจ ืืึธืืืขืจืก ืืึธืจ
โ ืืืืขื ืืื ืคึฟืึทืจื ืึทืื
,ืฐืืืืข ืฉืฐืึธืืขื
!ืืืืึธืืึธืจื
,ืืืื ืฉืฐืขืกืืขืจ ืืึทืคึผื ืึท ืืื ืืฑืฃ ืืืจืข ืึทืงืกืืขื
,ืื ืืฑืคึฟื ืึทืจืฑืก โืึทืฐืขืง
.ืืื ืงืืื ืขืจ ืฐืืืกื ื ืืฉื ืฐื
.
Mayn Shvester
Mayn shvester brengt fun mark aheym
fish un fleysh.
Zi nemt aroys di oygn bay di fish,
mit dine finger trapt zi dos fets,
afn fleysh,โ
mayn shvester mit di sharfe tseyn.
Nor ven hinter koymens,
hinter dekher
fargeyt di zun,
a fremder un goldener fekher
lesht zikh, geyt oys
af di vent,
af dem dil,โ
dreyt mayn shvester oys dos ponim:
tunkl zaynen itst ire oygn, vi bir.
Di royte bender in ir tokhters hor
blien in farnakhtโ
vilde shvomen,
mukhomorn!
Mayn shvester khapt a tukh af ire akslen,
zi loyft aroysโ avek,
un keyner veyst nisht vu.
ยฉ Avi Fried, Aliza Greenblatt, Rokhl Korn, Abraham Nahum Stencl, Leyzer Volf, Rajzel Zychlinsky, Caleb Sher, Joseph Reisberg, Jordan Lee Schnee, Roberta Newman, and Susan Cohen
Poetsโ Bios
Avi Fried lives in Chicago with his dog, Miette. He learns and teaches Yiddish.
Aliza Greenblatt (nรฉe Waitzman) was born in Azarenits, Bessarabia (present-day Ozaryntsi, Ukraine) in 1885. Unusually for a girl, she received an education at a kheyder (a traditional Torah school for young boys), since she had no brothers. She emigrated to the United States with her family in 1900 and began to write only later in life. Several of her poems were set to music and became popular tunes. Her daughter, Marjorie, married the folk music legend Woody Guthrie. Greenblatt and Guthrie became artistic interlocutors after a fashion, and often critiqued each other’s work.
Rokhl Korn was born in a small Eastern Galician village in 1898. Beginning her career as a Polish-language poet, she later switched to Yiddish in the wake of pogroms and after her husband introduced her to a community of Yiddish writers. The Nazi invasion drove her and her daughter eastward to Soviet Uzbekistan. After the war, she returned to Poland to find that the rest of her family had been murdered. She lived the rest of her life in Montreal, where she worked at the Jewish Public Library. Korn published eight books of poetry and two short-story collections.
Abraham Nahum Stencl (1897-1983) was a Yiddish poet who was born in Slesia. He was active in Berlin, Germany in his younger years and later in Whitechapel, UK. Stencl is known for his large body of visceral, modernist, expressionist work that transcended the highs and lows of Yiddish’s fate. He is also noted for his association with Kafka’s lover, Dora Diamant.
Leyzer Volf (1910-1943) was a modernist Yiddish poet of the 1920s-1930s, a member of the Young Vilna literary group in Wilno, Poland (now Vilnius, Lithuania). Best known for his satirical, rhyming verse, he also wrote soulful and philosophical poems. Much of his surviving work can be found in his 1939 book Shvartse perl (Black pearls), which now exists in only a few copies. Memoirs of his contemporaries hint that he was queer. During World War II, he fled to the USSR, where he died in Uzbekistan, of starvation and disease, at age thirty-three. Only two of his poems have previously been published in English translation.
Rajzel Zychlinsky was born in 1910 in Poland, where her first book appeared in 1936. She escaped to the Soviet Union in 1939 and settled in New York City in 1951, then moved to California for her final years. Before her death at the age of 90, Zychlinsky published seven collections of poems in Yiddish and received Israelโs Itzik Manger Prize for Yiddish literature. Though she knew five languages, she chose to continue writing only in the language spoken by millions who died in the gas chambers, including her sister, brother, and mother. These poems all appeared in Silent Doors (1962), which can be found in the Yiddish Book Centerโs Steven Spielberg Digital Yiddish Library. Translated with permission of Marek Kanter.
Translatorsโ Bios
Avi Fried lives in Chicago with his dog, Miette. He learns and teaches Yiddish.
Caleb Sher is currently a fellow in the bibliography department at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA. He thinks rhyme is underrated. This is his first published translation, and he is grateful to the editors for giving him the chance to render a little bit of Aliza Greenblatt’s graceful verse into English.
Joseph Reisberg is currently the 2023 Applebaum Family Fellow in the Bibliography Department at the Yiddish Book Center. His poems and translations appear or are forthcoming in Jewish Fiction.net, The Adroit Journal, and Beltway Poetry Quarterly.
Jordan Lee Schnee is a writer, musician, and translator based in Berlin, where he is pursuing a doctorate in comparative literature at the Freie Universitรคt. His PhD project examines the concordant poetics of Kabbalah and OuLiPo texts. Schnee has translated many writers from Yiddishland, Europe, and South America, and worked closely with the Eloรญsa Cartonera publishing project in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is a part of the arts and literature collective Yiddish.Berlin. Recent publications of his own work include Unapprehension / Entfassung (Propeller, 2019/2021) and “ืืฒึทืืฉืฐืขืจืืขืจ / denotations” (Aphia, 2021).
Roberta Newman is a writer, editor, and translator living in Brooklyn New York. She is the co-author, with Alice Nakhimovsky, of Dear Mendl, Dear Reyzl: Yiddish Letter Manuals from Russia and America (Indiana University Press, 2014), winner of a National Jewish Book Award. Her published fiction includes Girl of the Comet (3rd prize, MOMENT Magazine-Karma Foundation Fiction Contest, 2012). Two of her Yiddish poems appeared in the Soviet Yiddish journal Sovetish Heymland (1988). Newman is working on translations of Leyzer Volfโs Yiddish poems with the help of a 2022-2023 Yiddish translation fellowship from the Yiddish Book Center.
Susan Cohen is the author of Throat Singing (2012), A Different Wakeful Animal (2016), and Democracy of Fire (2022). Her poems have appeared in 32 Poems, Bloomsbury Anthology of Contemporary Jewish American Poetry, Prairie Schooner, Southern Humanities Review, Southern Review, and her previous translations of Rajzel Zychlinksy can be found at Asymptote Journal, Los Angeles Review, and Womenโs Voices for Change. She lives in Berkeley, California.
The Loch Raven Review 