Sunday, May 24, 2009

Countenance of the Lost One

This poem is based off of a religios poem written by Isaac Ibn Ghiyath who lived in Medieval Spain from 1038 to 1089. It is based on a translation from one of his poems that I have in an old course reader from a fantastic class I took on Jews in Muslim and Christian Spain. Since I can't find the translation anywhere online, you'll just have to trust that it is similar to religious poetry of that time.


By Hashem, the blessed name
I’ve imagined your bride is vestments of white
I give to receive the purest light
Though I may not see either.

I called out in desperation,
My heart lost to music I so loved
You breathed life gently,
And I was reborn.

I cannot see what I know is there—
My soul again made whole.

1 comment:

  1. I love this prayer! It is wonderful. The translation as a whole manages to convey the depth of emotion and beauty of Shabbat and the way man's soul is restored by its celebration. I was under the impression that "Thought I may not see either, " should be "Though I may not see either." I am curious to know if this was a typographical error or if there was a reason you translated the word this way. Please let me know.

    Thank you, Lady Koko Erdene, Chatelaine of Rockwall/
    aka Lorriedel Davis

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