Beautiful women and girls

Abraham ben Ḥalfon

Late 12th Century

Beautiful women and girls, hiding
in your homes, gorgeous
like the heavenly luminaries, and white like snow—
go out and see the wonders of the sea!
From your homes, roar like a lion
to see the fishes that God’s hands have fashioned!
They throng along channels of water, like doves—
hasten now, do not tarry!
And see, now, the wondrous creature
which storms up the sea, as it heads out for prey.
It covers the shore and fills the land,
like camps marked with banners when they encamp.
The hand of deadly destruction pursues it,
until it reveals its disgrace.
It yearns to return to its home again,
but its desires are not given to it.
All the people are astounded by your size.
They say, “How is it that it grew in the sea,
and its [fin’s] edges were high up to the heavens?”
It has died. It is like the dead, which lie in the grave.
How has your fate ended up like this?
Your lot used to be very pleasant.
You had delightful things, and all the fatty fish,
like nobles, would plead subserviently to you! [ . . . ]
You were weakened by your great pride,
when the time destined for your death arrived.
You were pushed out of your place,
and men gathered to show astonishment at your fate.
Giant Og would be small in comparison to you.
He would be considered nothing. Therefore, O, seafarers,
be afraid! Go, rather, to plant fields of grasses,
and acquire houses on dry land!
Let us go up to the one who drew it out of the sea,
who showed its great pride to people,
so that they would gather
to acknowledge God and sing songs.
All children of Jacob, gather yourselves.
Keep telling more wondrous deeds of God.
Make music with harp and lyre.
Render might and honor to the eternal God!
Translated by Gabriel Wasserman.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 3: Encountering Christianity and Islam.

Engage with this Source

This poem was written on the occasion of a large fish washing up on the shore in Aden, Yemen. The poet takes the opportunity to show off his literary skill, marveling at the size of the fish while also praising God’s creation. The meaning of a number of lines in this poem is obscure, so the translation is tentative.

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Related Guide

Early Medieval Poetry

7th to 12th Century

Creator Bio

Abraham ben Ḥalfon

12th Century

All that is known about Abraham ben Ḥalfon is that he lived in Aden, Yemen, and wrote both liturgical and nonliturgical Hebrew poems, such as panegyrics and wedding poems.

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