By Natan Alterman
Translation: Uri Lifshitz
The melody thou have forsaken
in vain; will yet refrain.
The road stretches sidewise, where
a cloud in its heavens and a tree in its showers
expect thee still, passer by.
The wind shell rise and with a flight of swings
the lightning shell pass over thee.
and a sheep and a doe shell bear witness
that thou have moved on
with but a gentle pat.
Thy hands are bare and thy town distant
and thou has repeatedly
bended thy knees in worship
to a green grove and a woman in her laughter
and a rainy lidded tree crown.
The melody thou have forsaken
in vain; will yet refrain.
The road stretches sidewise, where
a cloud in its heavens and a tree in its showers
expect thee still, a passerby.