To comment properly on this nigh-untranslatable poem would require an essay of considerable length. Suffice it to say that one should remember that this was written before Israel gained control of East Jerusalem (and with it, the Old City.)
On A Night of Rain in Jerusalem
By Uri Tzvi Greenberg
Requested by Daniel Harpaz
The few trees in the yard moan like trees of a woodland,
River-laden, the loud deep thunderclouds reign.
The Angels of Peace guard my slumbering children
In the moan of the trees, and dark gathering of rain.
Out there: Jerusalem - city of Abraham's trial and glory
Where he bound his Son on a mount when time came.
The fire kindled at dawn still burns on the mountain.
The rains quench it not: the covenant's flame..
"Should God command me now as once He commanded
My Father of old, I will surely obey"
Sing my heart and my flesh in this night of rain
And Angels of Peace guard my children till day!
What can equal this glory, this miracle zeal
For Mount Moriah - alive from that ancient day on?
On A Night of Rain in Jerusalem
By Uri Tzvi Greenberg
Requested by Daniel Harpaz
The few trees in the yard moan like trees of a woodland,
River-laden, the loud deep thunderclouds reign.
The Angels of Peace guard my slumbering children
In the moan of the trees, and dark gathering of rain.
Out there: Jerusalem - city of Abraham's trial and glory
Where he bound his Son on a mount when time came.
The fire kindled at dawn still burns on the mountain.
The rains quench it not: the covenant's flame..
"Should God command me now as once He commanded
My Father of old, I will surely obey"
Sing my heart and my flesh in this night of rain
And Angels of Peace guard my children till day!
What can equal this glory, this miracle zeal
For Mount Moriah - alive from that ancient day on?
The covenant's blood sings in this father in prayer
Prepared for a Temple Mount offering at dawn.
Out there: Jerusalem, and the moaning trees of God
Felled there by enemies in all generations.
The river-laden clouds bear sunders of lightning
And thunder. These in this rainstruck night are my tidings
From the Almighty's Mouth till the end of generations.
-1954
Audio recording of me reading the original Hebrew:
The Original:
Prepared for a Temple Mount offering at dawn.
Out there: Jerusalem, and the moaning trees of God
Felled there by enemies in all generations.
The river-laden clouds bear sunders of lightning
And thunder. These in this rainstruck night are my tidings
From the Almighty's Mouth till the end of generations.
-1954
Audio recording of me reading the original Hebrew:
The Original:
בְּלֵיל גֶּשָׁם בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם
עֲצֶי מְעַט בֶּחָצֵר הוֹמִים כַּעֲצֵי יַעַר,
כִּבְדֵי נְהָרוֹת עֲנָנִים מָרְעָמִים,
מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם לִמְרַאֲשׁוֹת יְלָדַי
בְּהֶמְיַת הָעֵצִים וְחַשְׁרַת הַגְּשָׁמִים
בַּחוּץ– יְרוּשָׁלַיִם: עִיר מַסַּת הוֹד הָאָב
וַעֲקֵדַת בְּנוֹ בְּאַחַד הֶהָרִים
הָאֵשׁ–מִשַּׁחֲרִית עוֹד דּוֹלֶקֶת בָּהָר
הַגְּשָׁמִים לֹא כִבּוּהָ: אֵשׁ בֵּין הַבְּתָרִים
אִם אֵל יְצַוֵּנִי כָּעֵת כְּשֶׁצִּוָּה"
לְאָבִי הַקַּדְמוֹן– אֲצַיֵּת בְּוַדַּאי"
רַן לִבִּי וּבְשָׂרִי בְּלֵיל הַגֶּשֶׁם הַזֶּה
וּמַלְאֲכֵי הַשָׁלוֹם לִמְרַאֲשׁוֹתֵי יְלָדַי
מַה מֵּהוֹד מַה מָּשָׁל לְזֶה רֶגֶשׁ פִּלְאִי
חַי מִקֶּדֶם שַׁחֲרִית עַד כָּעֵת אֶל הַר מֹר:
מִתְרוֹנֵן דַּם הַבְּרִית בְּגוּף אָב תְּפִלִּי
נָכוֹן לְקָרבַּן הַר הַבַּיִת עִם אוֹר!
נָכוֹן לְקָרבַּן הַר הַבַּיִת עִם אוֹר!
בַּחוּץ – יְרוּשָׁלַיִם...וְהֶמְיַת עֲצֵי יָהּ
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עּנָנִים כִּבְדֵי נְהָרוֹת: בָּם בְּרָקִים
וּרְעָמִים, שֶׁהֵם לִי בְּלֵיל גֶשֶׁם – בְשׂוֹרוֹת
מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה עַד סוֹף הַדּוֹרוֹת
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