DER YIDDISH-VINKL September 19, 2003
On August 12, 1952, the most famous Jewish writers in the Soviet Union were “liquidated” by order of Stalin. There was no reason other than the fact that they were Jewish and enjoyed fame. To memorialize these “martyrs,” the Forverts devoted its page on “Pearls of Yiddish Poetry” to excerpts of their works. What follows are transliterations of their work by Goldie Gold and English versions by Gus Tyler.
Un Oyb (Dovid Hofshteyn)
Un oyb a mol vet oyf mayn keyver zayn a shteyn
(Zol beser yo zayn, eyder neyn)
Iz zol dos zayn a shteyn an ekhter,
Fun traye hent geteset,
Un zol in oyfshrift zayn farflokhtn a vort an alts,
Oyf ekhtn shteyn fun traye hent geteset
A vort vos klingt far fil shoyn fremd: khesed.
And If
And if sometime upon my grave is placed a stone
To let the world know once upon my labors fame had shone
Be sure the stone is real and not some crumbling sands
And let the work be done by honest, faithful hands
Carve out one word that round the world is clearly heard
And please make certain “mercy” is the only word.
* * *|
Far Vos (Itsik Fefer)
Ver hot derloybt mir moykhl zayn
Dem shtrik vos hot mayn bruders hant fartsoygn?
Ver hot derloybt mir moykhl zayn
Der hant, vos hot dem shtrik gehaltn,
Dos oyg, dos oysgeloshene un kalte,
Vos hot zikh nisht farmakht?
Nisht tog, nisht nakht
Un hot gekukt a ruiks oyf der hant,
Vos hot dem shtrik fartsoygn.
Gebentsht zol zayn di shayn,
Vos brit mir mayne oygn
Un rudert oyf mayn zayn
Ver hot derloybt mir ruik zayn…
Un opnemen di ru bay di vos lign in di kvorim
S’iz zeyer ru. S’iz zeyer shlof. S’iz undzer payn.
Es kukt der tsar tsu mir un meynt, az ikh bin orem,
Nor raykh bin ikh mit ayn nisht moykhl zayn
Why
Now who would let me to forgive:
The rope that choked my brother’s hand?
Now who would let me to forgive
The one who held the rope in hand?
Perhaps the eye as cold as ice
That thought the scene was very nice?
Blessed be the lights that shine
And stir this human heart of mine
Why should my soul be now at peace
To share the rest of those deceased?
“Poor guy,” some say, “ain’t fit to live,”
But — I’m rich with all I won’t forgive.
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