DER YIDDISH-VINKL June 23, 2006
On his 40th yahrzeit, Yiddish poet Aaron Glants-Leyeles was featured in the section of the Forverts dedicated to Pearls of Yiddish Poetry. One of his passions was America. What follows is one of his poems about the country, transliterated by our colleague Goldie Gold and translated into English by Gus Tyler.
Tsu Amerike
Kh’hob lib di shtoltse himl-linye fun Manhetn
Di taykhn fun dem land di preyris toyznt-yorike;
Kh’hob lib di oytos, vegn, glantsik vi parketn
Kh’hob lib dem kholem fun der vor vos heyst Amerike.
Kh’hob lib dem yungn impet un dem frayen otem
Di shtimen hoferdike, shprakhn alerleyike
Dos oysgemish fun felker, rasn, farbn, shvotim
Fun dorems zunland biz dem tsofns berger shneyike.
Kh’hob do gefunen broyt tsu esn, kleyd tsu trogn
Kh’hob do bakumen s’hekhste mentshlekhe geshenkenish
Dem grodn kuk, dos rekht a viln tsu farmogn,
Un kh’lib dikh, land, mit tsertlikhkeyt, mit benkshaft.
Nokh kharpe un nokh shrek, nokh lastes un nokh geto.
Bistu far letster hofenung der letster harberik
Der groyl shtelt dir a gebentshte hele teme —
Do vest nisht nokhgebn der sine, der fardarberke.
For America
I love the stately skyline of Manhattan
The rivers of the land, the ancient prairies
I love the autos and the roads as smooth as satin
A dream that’s real and brought by God-sent fairies.
I love the youthful spirit, air so open
The sturdy voices and the tongues so many
The many races, creeds and colors hopin’
That they will rise, not count on every penny.
I found the bread to eat, the clothes that I am wearing
’Tis here I found the greatest human blessing
The honest look, no need for oaths or swearing
Folk speak their minds, so there’s no need for guessing.
After shame and after fear and ghettos
You are our final hope and port of safety
America we love your mode and meadows
Within your arms we’ll face the future safely.
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