All Works

איבער דעם קאַמף פֿון די וועלדער,

Over the crest of the forests,

Work 167 of 440

Page 208. 'Di Shtal' Sections KAF-GIMEL conclusion, KAF-DALED, and KAF-HEY opening — the visionary answer and animal blessing: The vision answers: 'Over the crest of forests, over roofs — leaping. Roaring. Fluttering.' An arched rainbow is the path of the leap — 'one leap, and no more.' Scattered thunder on mountains is the echo of the roar — 'one roar and no more.' A white, foamy river is the path of the flight — 'one flight and no more.' Each creature's essence reduced to one perfect, final act. Section KAF-DALED (24): The four beasts come to bless the fugitive: 'Wings with pure feathers stroke his cheeks with love — harp-song.' 'Paws with trembling claws fall with longing upon his neck — fiddle-play.' 'Horns, like woven wreaths, lay themselves at his feet — cymbal-sound.' The eagle's wings, leopard's paws, deer's horns — each touch accompanied by music. 'Heaven and earth — one praise and song, that he hears with all his limbs.' The King David instruments from earlier, now playing. Section KAF-HEY (25) begins: 'Why don't you roar once more, lion? Why don't you roar once more, leopard?' — the fugitive calling the symbolic beasts to action.

Yiddish Original

איבער דעם קאַמף פֿון די וועלדער,

איבער די דעכער — געשפּרונג.

געשפּרונג.

געברום.

געפֿלאַטער.

אַן אויסגעבויגענער רעגנבויגן —

דאָס איז דער וועג פֿונעם שפּרונג.

איין שפּרונג, און נישט מער.

אַ פֿונאַנדערגעשאָטענער דונער אויף בערג —

דאָס איז דער נאָכקלאַנג פֿונעם ברום.

איין ברום און נישט מער.

אַ ווײַסער און שוימיקער טײַך —

דאָס איז דער וועג פֿונעם פֿלי.

איין פֿלי און נישט מער.

כד

פֿליגלען מיט לויטערע פֿעדערן

גלעטן אים מיט ליבשאַפֿט זײַנע באַקן —

— האַרפֿע־געזאַנג —

לאַפּעס מיט ציטעריקע נעגל

פֿאַלן מיט בענקשאַפֿט אַרויף אויף זײַן נאַקן:

— פֿידל־געשפּיל —

הערנער, ווי געפֿלאָכטענע קרענץ,

לייגן זיך צו די פֿיס אים אַנידער:

— צימבל־געקלאַנג —

הימל און ערד — איין לויב און געזאַנג,

געזאַנג, וואָס ער הערט מיט אַלע זײַנע גלידער. —

האַרפֿע־געזאַנג,

פֿידל־געשפּיל,

צימבל־געקלאַנג.

כה

וואָס שאַלסטו נישט נאָכאַמאָל, לייב?

וואָס ברומסטו נישט נאָכאַמאָל, לעמפּערט?

Transliteration

Iber dem kamf fun di velder,

iber di dekher — geshprung.

Geshprung.

Gebrum.

Geflater.

An oysgeboygeпer regПboygn —

dos iz der veg funem shprung.

Eyn shprung, un nisht mer.

A funandergeshоteпer duner oyf berg —

dos iz der nokhklang funem brum.

Eyn brum un nisht mer.

A vayser un shoymiker taykh —

dos iz der veg funem fli.

Eyn fli un nisht mer.

KAF-DALED

Fliglen mit loytere federn

gletn im mit libshaft zayne bakn —

— harfe-gezang —

Lapes mit tsiterike negl

faln mit benkshaft aroyf oyf zayn nakn:

— fidl-geshpil —

Herner, vi geflokhtene krents,

leygn zikh tsu di fis im anider:

— tsimbl-geklang —

Himl un erd — eyn loyb un gezang,

gezang, vos er hert mit ale zayne glider. —

Harfe-gezang,

fidl-geshpil,

tsimbl-geklang.

KAF-HEY

Vos shalstu nisht nokhаmol, leyb?

Vos brumstu nisht nokhamol, lempert?

English Translation

Over the crest of the forests,

over the roofs — leaping.

Leaping.

Roaring.

Fluttering.

An arched rainbow —

that is the path of the leap.

One leap, and no more.

A scattered thunder on mountains —

that is the echo of the roar.

One roar and no more.

A white and foamy river —

that is the path of the flight.

One flight and no more.

KAF-DALED

Wings with pure feathers

stroke his cheeks with love —

— harp-song —

Paws with trembling claws

fall with longing upon his neck:

— fiddle-play —

Horns, like woven wreaths,

lay themselves at his feet below:

— cymbal-sound —

Heaven and earth — one praise and song,

song, that he hears with all his limbs. —

Harp-song,

fiddle-play,

cymbal-sound.

KAF-HEY

Why don't you roar once more, lion?

Why don't you roar once more, leopard?

TRANSLATOR’S NOTE

Page 208. 'Di Shtal' Sections KAF-GIMEL conclusion, KAF-DALED, and KAF-HEY opening — the visionary answer and animal blessing: The vision answers: 'Over the crest of forests, over roofs — leaping. Roaring. Fluttering.' An arched rainbow is the path of the leap — 'one leap, and no more.' Scattered thunder on mountains is the echo of the roar — 'one roar and no more.' A white, foamy river is the path of the flight — 'one flight and no more.' Each creature's essence reduced to one perfect, final act. Section KAF-DALED (24): The four beasts come to bless the fugitive: 'Wings with pure feathers stroke his cheeks with love — harp-song.' 'Paws with trembling claws fall with longing upon his neck — fiddle-play.' 'Horns, like woven wreaths, lay themselves at his feet — cymbal-sound.' The eagle's wings, leopard's paws, deer's horns — each touch accompanied by music. 'Heaven and earth — one praise and song, that he hears with all his limbs.' The King David instruments from earlier, now playing. Section KAF-HEY (25) begins: 'Why don't you roar once more, lion? Why don't you roar once more, leopard?' — the fugitive calling the symbolic beasts to action.

/ previous & next poem·14 toggle columns·hover a line to align all versions

Over the crest of the forests, · H. Leivick: Complete Works · Half-Voll Attempts