After My Death
by Chayim Nachman Bialik (5664--1903/4)
Translated from the Hebrew by David P. Stern
After my death, thus shall you mourn me
"There was a man --and see: he is no more!
Before his time did this man depart
And the song of his life in its midst was stilled
And alas! One more tune did he have
And now that tune is forever lost
Forever lost!
And great is the pity! For a harp had he
A living and singing soul
And this poet, whenever he voiced it
The inner secrets of his heart it expressed
All its strings his hand would make sing out.
Yet one hidden chord now is lost with him
Round and round it his fingers would dance
One string in his heart, mute has remained
Mute has remained -- to this very day!
And great, oh great is the pity!
All its life this string would tremble
Silently quivering, silently trembling
To sound the tune that would set it free
Yearning, thirsting, sorrowing, desiring
As the heart sorrows for what fate has decreed
Though its tune was delayed -- every day did it wait
And with unheard whisper begged it to come
Its time came and passed, and it never arrived
It never arrived!
And great, oh, how great is the pain
There was a man --and see: he is no more
And the song of his life in its midst is stilled
One more melody did he have
And now that song is forever lost
Forever lost!
Comments