JEWS! MY BROTHERS!
Jews! My brothers!
With no homeland!..
Homeless under the sky!..
Alone in the world.
Who will mend your wounds?
And what place will accept you with good will?
What stone on Earth will not roll under your feet?
What cloud will not bring on its wings the storm for you? What ship will bring what you expect?
What place will accept the foundations of your home- and the swallow in what balcony will nest?
How will you name a mountain from its shape?
Creeks change their path When you thirstily approach them.
Air around you leaves a vacuum- it does not know you; And bread - tell me - isn’t it bitter anywhere you are Not being baked in the oven of your village?
Jews! My brothers!
Deep is the rift between a heart and a heartbeat Your steps do not leave tracks on the sand.
Your tears flow in vain - what Soil will drink them?
And foreign always glances Your eyes see on Earth’s streets.
In the dark cold of the Endless you are alone.
Not participants in the lie of man.
With feelings not of hate (for who?)
Not with hypocrisy.
With faith not on ephemeral gods
Ah! Nourishing Loneliness!
Ah! Loneliness full of Light!
Ah! Loneliness higher than the sky!
No wave twice wets your feet.
Your soul full of other glories.
The rainy cold nights, a knife in your breath.
The sun shines upon you seeking nothing.
The same for the moon, no matter where you see it.
Jews, my brothers, in foreign parts...
Nothing yours...
Everything yours...
Peace blossom in your spirit,
Her roots in other people’s wars ,
Flags, colors, songs,
Of small kids are now games for you.
And since the Earth chases you the sky remains.
And since down it doesn’t want you Up always you go.
And since for people you’re foreigners For God you are his kin, truly.
This is why you approached God (or did he approach you?) This is why - you, the chased ones - lead the world.
And since the Earth chases me, the sky remains.
And this is why I came close to God...
Jews! My brothers! Now I feel for you...
Jews.
My brothers.