|
Oy ir kleyne likhtelekh |
Translator's note: Bear in mind that the poet died in 1924, and wrote this at a time when there was no Israel and the notion of Jews fighting for and gaining their homeland was but a distant longing. |
|
| 1. O ir kleyne likhtelekh Ir dertselt geshikhtelekh Mayselekh on tzol Ir dertseylt fun blutikeyt Beryeshaft un mutikeyt Vunder fun amol. 2. Ven ikh zey aikh shminklendik Kumt a kholem finklendik Ret an alter troym Yid, du host gekrigt a mol Yid, du host gezigt a mol Ot dos gloybt zikh koym 3. S'iz bay dir a tolk geven Bist amol a folk geven Host amol regirt Host amol a land gehat Host amol a hant gehat Akh, vi tif dos rirt. 4. O, ir kleyne likhtelekh Ayere geshikhtelekh Vekn oyf mayn payn Tif in harts bavegt es zikh Un mit trern fregt es zikh Vos vet itster zayn? |
|
| TRANSLATION | |
| O little lights of mystery You recall our history And all that went before The battles and the bravery And our release from slavery Miracles galore. As my eyes behold your flames I recall our heroes' names And our ancient dream: “Jews were learning how to fight To defeat an awesome might They could reign supreme” “They would rule their own domain When the enemy was slain, The Temple cleansed and whole. Once there was a Jewish land And a mighty Jewish hand.” Oh, how it moves my soul! O little lights of mystery You retell our history Your tales are tales of pain. My heart is filled with fears My eyes are filled with tears "What now?" says the haunting refrain. |
|