Years have sped, eternally streaming-
Life has shaped you in course of time;-
Still you sang. . .
And still you created rhyme.
Still, in your own fashion, you prayed. . .
Or composed songs
Of sadness and joy. . .
Or with children played.
You shortened,
Or the garment lengthened. . .
Years long. . . and oft regretted.
You counted them to the good
Winters and summers
In their array-
Passed by in eternal procession. . .
Now you sing again
Songs of bygone days. . .
Of love eternal,-
Rooted so deeply;-
Of the ordinary
Day to day chores,
You sing your song
Once more,
Of the days of yore.
And of the credo-
Of coming Messiah-
And of bright hopes
For the morrow.
You sing once again
Songs of the Sabbath-
And melodies
Of holidays sanctified.
Of diligent study. . .
Then prayed with pride. .
You recall
Oft and again
Of the times when
You chanted the "Shimenesre"*
Earnestly, studiously. . .
And miracles wished for,
Eternally. . .
And now in song,
A question raise-
Midst the aura of modern days.
The whole world is at loggerheads. . .
When? Where? Can miracles be realized?
When there are beings-
Famished, weakened-
In a world by turmoil seized. . .
And bloodily wounded. .
Are there days ahead-
Near.... or on horizon wide..
When humanity will be assured
Of bread-
When humanity shall be at peace
And satisfied?. . .
Will the redeeming envoy ever appear? <
Will the world's long-yearned-for Messiah
Ever be here?
* 18 blessings chanted by orthodox Jews three times a day.