The Pendulum

Translation of Pendulum by Benni Nir, z”l

Like the people of Israel
on Remembrance Day
I’m in deep mourning
for the ‘me’ I have lost
but sorrow won’t turn to joy
with the coming of eve.

I don’t know when
the stars will emerge
when the pain will cease.
For me there’ll be no ceremony
to mark the start of celebrations.

What will herald
Independence Day, for me?
Shifting chemicals
or a friend’s concern,
loving arms around me
or a song to touch the soul? 

הַמְּטוּטֶלֶת

כְּמוֹ כָּל עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל

בְּיוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן

כָּךְ גַּם אֲנִי נְתוּנָה בְּאֵבֶל כָּבֵד

עַל הָ”אֲנִי” אֲשֶׁר אָבַד לִי.

אֲבָל הַצַּעַר לֹא יֵהָפֵך לְשִׂמְחָה

בְּבוֹא הָעֶרֶב.

 

אֵינִי יוֹדַעַת מָתַי

הַכּוֹכָבִים יָצְאוּ,

מָתַי הַכְּאֵב יַחֲלֹף.

עֲבוּרִי אֵין טֶקֶס

לְסִמּוּן תְחִילַתָן

שֶׁל הַחֲגִיגוֹת.

 

מָה יְבַשֵּׂר

יוֹם הָעַצְמָאוּת עֲבוּרִי?

שִׁנּוּי בְּכִיווּן הָרוּחַ

אוֹ דְּאָגָה שֶׁל חָבֵר,

זְרוֹעוֹתָיו שֶׁל אֲהוּבִי,

אוֹ שִׁיר שֶׁיִּגַּע בְּנִשְׁמָתִי?

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