Ok, I need to memorize this poem, but I don’t remember the book I got it from and I don’t remember it. Does anyone have a link to it or know it by heart or something?
Leyvk or Leivick Halpern I think. Anyone?
I did not find the poem on-line, (it isn’t in Yiddish, is it?), but your library may have a copy of The Penguin Book of Modern Yiddish Verse by Irving Howe, Ruth Wisse, & Khone Shmeruk that includes several poems by Leivick Halpern, including This Night Is Dark.
There are also references to the book Selected Poems by (Halpern’s pseuodonym) H. Leivick, but I have not seen any indication that it is in print and I am not sure that your poem is included.
Is the poem Yiddish? Moyshe Leib Halpern? I know there are some collections of his poems around.
Moyshe-Leyb Halpern? I don’t find the poem in question online offhand. It would be in an anthology of Yiddish poetry; I suggest you consult your friendly neighborhood librarian.
Cursed hamsters, that hangst thy server!
It’s Yiddish, but its been translated into English. There are just 3 lines I can’t remember now.
The night is dark
And I am Blind
From my hand the stick
Is torn by the wind
"Bare is my sack
Empty is my heart
A burden are both
A useless load
I pray you allow me to carry your load
The world is black
I carry the sack
And he… my heart"
Those are the lines I can’t remember (________)
Oh, I meant to start the quotes at “The night is dark…”
There is also a remote possibility tha you might find the poem in the book for the play Diamonds in the Dark. The play contains over twenty Yiddish poems, one of the poets quoted is Leivick, and the title of the play is reminiscent of the title of his poem.
You might also look for a copy of The Golem, which Halpern wrote (as Leivick?); such books occasionally will also feature shorter works by the author.
Leivick Halpern appears to be a different author than Moyshe Leib Halpern.
(And as I too subtly noted earlier, the first word is “This” not “The” according to the stuff I’ve found.)
Do you know the whole poem?
Moved to CS.
-xash
General Questions Moderator
Hopefully, the paperback edition of In New York: A Selection by Moyshe-Leyb Halpern, Kathryn Hellerstein (Translator) will have it. I would search for the poem, but amazon’s book seach feature ain’t working for it. If you just want one poem, you can e-mail the woman who translated the book, and ask politely for just that peom.
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/german/yiddish/khellers.htm
khellers@mail.sas.upenn.edu
And actually, looking at it, it seems like Leivick Halpern wrote as H. Leivick because he didn’t want to be confused with M. L. Halpern.
:smack: