Piyyut in Honor of R. Faradji Chaouat
O our God! O our God!
May Rabbi Frājī be with us.
Come, people, and hear what happened
to Rabbi Frājī, how he passed on.
He sent after the gozbar1
and said to him “Come before us.”
When the gozbar came before him,
and began to inquire about his well-being,
who visited him and held his place dear,
his sins were pardoned before our Master.
He said…
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A blunt wall of human backs, arms, legs.
A gray bulwark with white round stains.
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The whole day
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The whole day
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Just a narrow ditch between road and shoulder
Just young lids between sun and eye
What in the world
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In the Port
You strangers with the broad, thick-veined hands,
Crooked legs and faces hard as leather,
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Still Life
Bread and cheese and honey on a simple table.
The tea beckons golden
In two thin glasses.
Green, cool and fresh,
The water jug, veiled in dew.
On the edge a woman’s handkerchief.
Next to it, a…
Hebrew Ballads
Cover of Else Lasker-Schüler, Hebraische Balladen. Most of the poems in this volume have biblical themes. The drawing on the cover is by Lasker-Schüler, who often illustrated her published poetry. It…