Mit farmakhte oygn

[With closed eyes]

From: Di reyd funem shnayder-gezeln Note Manger tsum poet
[Tailor-Apprentice Note Manger's Speech to the Poet]

Mit farmakhte oygn	With closed eyes
herstu nenter dem yam,	the sea sounds closer,
Mit fiberndike finger	With feverish fingers
filstu gringer dem gram.	you feel the rhyme more easily.

Di goldene pave	The golden peacock
derkenstu in fli,	you recognize in its flight,
Un a benkshaft vert shener	And yearning is nicer
ven zi iz fun nisht-hi.	when it is from somewhere else.

Di midkeyt vert mider	Weariness becomes more weary
bay der shvel fun a hoyz,	at the threshold of a house,
Ven du knist filstu sharfer	When you kneel you feel more sharply
az got iz groys.	that God is great.

Got kivyokhl iz groys	God is ostensibly great
haynt punkt vi a mol,	today just as before,
Nisht vayl er dunert in himl	Not because he thunders in heaven
nor vayl er khlipet in tol.	or because he sobs in the valley.

Az voyl iz tsu dem	So happy are those
vos hot dos khlipen derhert,	who have heard sobbing,
Dir iz aza herung	You were fated
gevezn bashert.	to have heard such a thing.

Un a trer iz gefaln	And a tear has fallen
in dayn gemit.	on your mood,
Un mit vund un mit vunder	And with wounds and with wonder
zikh tseblit in dayn lid.	you flourish in your song.

Jewish Folk Songs