Wind blew, light drew them all.
New songs revive their mornings.
Only I, small bird, am forsaken
under the Shekhina’s wing.
Alone. I remain alone.
The Shekhina’s broken wing
trembled over my head. My heart knew hers:
her fear for her only son.
Driven from every ridge –
one desolate corner left –
in the House of Study she hides in shadow,
and I alone share her pain.
Imprisoned beneath her wing
my heart longed for the light.
She buried her face on my shoulder
and a tear fell on my page.
Dumbly she clung and wept.
Her broken wing sheltered me:
“scattered to the four winds of heaven;
they are gone, and I am alone”.
It was an ancient lament
a suppliant cry I heard
in that lost and silent weeping,
and in that scalding tear.
(Hayyim Nahman Bialik)
More Poetry from Hayyim Nahman Bialik:
Hayyim Nahman Bialik Poems based on Topics: Pain, Education, Light, Heaven, Birds, Sons- After My Death (Hayyim Nahman Bialik Poems)
- On A Summer's Day (Hayyim Nahman Bialik Poems)
- On The Slaughter (Hayyim Nahman Bialik Poems)
- Should You Wish To Know The Source (Hayyim Nahman Bialik Poems)
- Sabbath Queen (Hayyim Nahman Bialik Poems)
- One, Two (Hayyim Nahman Bialik Poems)