BLACKWELL FAMILY
ALICE STONE BLACKWELL

SUBJECT FILE

Hebrew Poems: Translated by
Alice S. Blackwell"Translation into English verse by
Alice Stone Blackwell)

Help us to build up a centre for Hebrews
A centre and home for our own Jewish art
For our artists who fain would remain Jews forever
Who roam through the wide world with sad, lonely heart.

Oh, help us to build up the temple of knowledge
That fosters wise craftsmanship, art of the best
And help those who study there, bright Jewish children,
To go through life honestly, meeting each test.

Oh, help to build up a home for us Hebrews
In no alien land, in the land of the Jew
The land where we love every nook, every corner,
Each green leaf, each blossom bespangled with dew.

The land where each stone is a holy memorial
Recalling our brethren, the dear and the true
The land where each wind to our ears brings the tidings
The old Jewish nation will there live now.

Yes, there were cedars grown stately and flourish
Spread boughs high in air and root deep in the earth
Whose shade is delightful to all men beneath it
Whose beauty like magic wakes pleasure and mirth.

Yep, there shall our nation renew its existence
To help the fresh growth of the old cedar tree
No longer abused and no longer offended
Our own Jewish nation hereafter should be.


HEBREW CRADLE SONG
(Translation by Alice Stone Blackwell)

Night has on the earth descended
All around is silence deep.
Sleep, my darling, I am with thee
Sleep a calm and peaceful sleep!
Unto songs there is an end dear.
I shall sing thee none tonight.
Sleep in peace, yea! sleep on sweetly
Long as sleep thou canst, my light!
In our native fields aforetime
Wondrous songs we used to sing
Improvising them in gardens
Turning green with early spring.

Where grew daffodils and myrtles,
Stately palms rose green and fair,
Cypress trees spread wide their branches
Wondrous roses blossomed there.
But these sounds are hushed and silenced
Ruined now our Zion lies
(or Zion now in ruin lies)
And for songs, laments now greet us
Yea, for songs we hear but sighs
Mourning sounds instead of singing.

All thou needs must know, my darling,
Of thy nation's piteous plight
Thou wilt learn, and weep for sorrow
As thy mother weeps tonight.
But why now in vain disturb thee?
Let thy peaceful slumber last
Until over thee, my dearest,
The dark day of rain hath passed!

To the school, my son, I'll lead thee
By the hand; thou there shalt learn
All our Bible and our knowledge
Woundrous pears thou wilt discern.
Pearls of wisdom in our Talmund,
Gems our sages' lore affords;
Thou shalt taste of prayer's first sweetness
And the charm of God's great words.

Ne'er forget thou art a Hebrew!
Little son, remember well,
Even to they grave, the stories
That they mother used to tell. The Prayer.
From the Yiddish of Frug. Rendered into English verse by
Alice Stone Blackwell.

To thee, O Liberty, clear fount of joy,
Fountain so bright and tranquil, calm and fair!
Weary with tears, to thee our song ascends,
For thee, I Freedom, gushes forth our prayer!

Come, faithful and beloved, Come to us!
And, like the pointed arrow from the bow,
Into the cruel hangman's wicked eyes
Thy bright day, when it dawns, will strike a blow.

Heavy as lead and hard and stern as iron
To them will seem thy cool, refreshing breath;
They will be smothered in thy pure, sweet air;
To them thy advent is the doom of death.

To thee, O Freedom, calm and sparkling fount
Of all delight, our longing hearts' desire!
Weary with grief, to thee our song ascends,
For thee our prayer springs forth in flames of fire!AT NIGHT
(From the Yiddish of Byalik)

The silent night spreads mysteries abroad;
The whole world has grown hushed, in quiet blest;
The water-wheel alone is stormy yet,
And will not let the river lie at rest.

Thick and more thick the blackness gathers now [still];
Deeper the shadows grow on plain and height.
Star after star is falling from the sky
Into the ocean of the darksome night.

Silent is all! My heart along I feel;
It will not quiet be, it will not rest;
And I can hear a clear spring in my heart,
Rushing and murmuring within my breast.

Softly it speaks to me: "My child," it says,
"Your wish will yet come true, though it be far.
Behold, a star is falling from the sky!
Have faith, my child: that star is not your star.

"Yours remains fixed, and twinkles clear and fair
In the bright chain of stars in yonder height.
Look there! You see, it makes a sign to you;
Comfort and faith are in its heavenly light."

While silence wraps the world, I gaze above
At yonder shining stars, on high, apart.
My world is only one amid a host;
Deeply I feel it, in my inmost heart.
A.S.B.
(over)From Alice Stone Blackwell
Chilmark, Mass.