DER YIDDISH-VINKL June 9, 2006
Eleanor Gordon Mlotek and Joseph Mlotek were compilers of a series of books published by the Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring. One of these compendia is titled “Pearls of Yiddish Poetry,” the same title of a regular column in the Forverts. The following poem by Abraham Reisen is taken from the Mlotek compendium. The English version is by Gus Tyler.
Hulyet, Hulyet, Beyze Vintn
Hulyet, hulyet, beyze vintn,
Fray behersht di velt!
Brekht di tsvaygn, varft di beymer
Tut vos aykh gefelt.
Traybt di feygl fun di felder
Un faryogt zey fort;
Di vos kenen vayt nisht flien,
Teyt zey ofn ort.
Rayst di odn fun di hayzlekh
Shoybn brekht aroys
Brent a likhtl ergets tunkl
Lesht mit tsorn oys!
Hulyet, hulyet beyze vintn
Itst iz ayer tsayt
Lang vet doyern der vinter
Zumer iz nokh vayt.
* * *|
Howl, Howl, Raging Winds
Howl, oh howl, ye winds so wicked
These hours belong to you
Destroy what comes within your thicket
Just do what pleases you.
Drive the birdies from their nesting
Yes, drive them far away
Explain that you are merely testing
How great o’er all your sway.
Now tear the roofs right from the houses
Make sure to break the windowpanes
And if with you the thought arouses
Do other things inflicting pains.
Howl, oh howl, ye winds so wicked
These hours belong to you
Destroy what comes within your thicket
These days belong to you.
* * *|
As time passed, and the tide of human events began to change, the final lines became:
Lang der vinter vet nisht doyern,
zumer is nisht vayt.
Long the winter won’t endure,
for summer’s on the way!
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