Leah Goldberg
Leah Goldberg (1911-70) was born to a Jewish family in German-controlled Russia. During WWI, her family suffered the death of her younger brother and her father's loss of his mental health. She excelled in foreign languages, learning Hebrew at a young age. After her university education in Germany, she moved to Israel where she became one of the most highly regarded writers of poetry, children's books, essay, critical reviews, and translations of great world literature.
See below for her poem based on the parable of the Prodigal Son.
See below for her poem based on the parable of the Prodigal Son.
The Prodigal Son
1. On the Road
And the stone on the roadside said then,
'How heavy your steps have grown.'
And the stone said, 'Will you return now
To your forgotten home?'
And the bush on the roadside said then,
'Your tallness is bent low.
How,' said the bush, 'will you get there,
Stumbling as you go?'
And the sign-post by the roadside
Cried 'Stranger!' in its scorn;
And the sign-post by the roadside
Stabbed him like a thorn.
'Your lips are dry,' cried the fountain;
And called from the roadside near.
And he knelt and drank of the water,
And a tear touched a tear.
2. In the House
'I have forgotten,' the sister said.
The brother said, 'I do not recall.
''I'll never forgive,' the father said.
The bride said, 'I've forgiven all.'
Silent the mother peeped through the blinds:
Long is the road and far it winds.
'The wind is rising,' the sister said.
The brother said, 'O hear the rain.
''Locked is the door,' the young bride said.
'None,' said the father, 'shall lock it again.
'Silent the mother walked to and fro:
God in heaven, how the winds blow.
'There are five of us,' the sister said.
The brother said, 'Let us sit and dine.
''Come,' said the bride, 'the table is laid.
'The father said, 'I shall pour the wine.
'Silent the mother bowed her head,
In five parts broke the Sabbath bread.
The sister nibbled her crumbs like a mouse,
The brother sopped his bread, the bride
Toasted the mistress of the house,
The father ate his bread and sighed.
Then up rose the mother and drew back the chain,
And opened the door to the wind and the rain.
3. Repentance
'I am not guiltless, my hands not blameless,
But my heart repents in no wise.
'And he knelt down at the threshold,
Lay down and would not rise.
'Seven times have I proved my falseness,
Seven times blasphemed the Name,
And the heavens above bear witness
That I was always to blame.
'The heavens above bear witness
That sin is bone of my bone,
And that I shall still prove faithless,
For I am the prodigal son.'
The sister stood in the doorway
And weeping bowed her head;
The bride in the open doorway
Wrung hands as if for the dead.
The brother stayed in his chambers,
For what he had to say,
And spied from his dark chamber
On his brother where he lay.
But the mother raised her face,
And her face like sunlight shone,
'What matters whether evil or good,
Since you have returned, my son.
'Your father will never forgive you
Who chose the forbidden path,
But rise and receive the blessing
Of your father's loving wrath.'
Translation copyright Jean Shapiro Cantu, from "Selected poems, Leah Goldberg," (London, Menard Press, 1976)
1. On the Road
And the stone on the roadside said then,
'How heavy your steps have grown.'
And the stone said, 'Will you return now
To your forgotten home?'
And the bush on the roadside said then,
'Your tallness is bent low.
How,' said the bush, 'will you get there,
Stumbling as you go?'
And the sign-post by the roadside
Cried 'Stranger!' in its scorn;
And the sign-post by the roadside
Stabbed him like a thorn.
'Your lips are dry,' cried the fountain;
And called from the roadside near.
And he knelt and drank of the water,
And a tear touched a tear.
2. In the House
'I have forgotten,' the sister said.
The brother said, 'I do not recall.
''I'll never forgive,' the father said.
The bride said, 'I've forgiven all.'
Silent the mother peeped through the blinds:
Long is the road and far it winds.
'The wind is rising,' the sister said.
The brother said, 'O hear the rain.
''Locked is the door,' the young bride said.
'None,' said the father, 'shall lock it again.
'Silent the mother walked to and fro:
God in heaven, how the winds blow.
'There are five of us,' the sister said.
The brother said, 'Let us sit and dine.
''Come,' said the bride, 'the table is laid.
'The father said, 'I shall pour the wine.
'Silent the mother bowed her head,
In five parts broke the Sabbath bread.
The sister nibbled her crumbs like a mouse,
The brother sopped his bread, the bride
Toasted the mistress of the house,
The father ate his bread and sighed.
Then up rose the mother and drew back the chain,
And opened the door to the wind and the rain.
3. Repentance
'I am not guiltless, my hands not blameless,
But my heart repents in no wise.
'And he knelt down at the threshold,
Lay down and would not rise.
'Seven times have I proved my falseness,
Seven times blasphemed the Name,
And the heavens above bear witness
That I was always to blame.
'The heavens above bear witness
That sin is bone of my bone,
And that I shall still prove faithless,
For I am the prodigal son.'
The sister stood in the doorway
And weeping bowed her head;
The bride in the open doorway
Wrung hands as if for the dead.
The brother stayed in his chambers,
For what he had to say,
And spied from his dark chamber
On his brother where he lay.
But the mother raised her face,
And her face like sunlight shone,
'What matters whether evil or good,
Since you have returned, my son.
'Your father will never forgive you
Who chose the forbidden path,
But rise and receive the blessing
Of your father's loving wrath.'
Translation copyright Jean Shapiro Cantu, from "Selected poems, Leah Goldberg," (London, Menard Press, 1976)
