Hebrew Love Poems [Paperback]

David C. Gross (Editor), Shraga Weil (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1995

Poets have been writing in Hebrew since Biblical times. One of the oldest tongues known to man, its rich simplicity has inspired poetry whose hallmarks are immediacy and passion. Although much of Hebrew poetry has traditionally focused on the religious and philosophical, the theme of love has remained vivid throughout the centuries of Jewish life. This beautifully illustrated book of more than ninety love lyrics translated from the Hebrew is a celebration of this enduring theme. Ranging from The Song of Songs to poetry from modern Israel, there are poems of praise and devotion, quiet reflection, joyous celebration, carefree humor, and sensuous beauty. Shraga Weil's delicate, evocative illustrations are the perfect complement to the works they accompany. Included are the works of King David, the Psalmist, King Solomon, author of The Song of Songs, Nobel Laureate S.Y. Agnon, as well as Yehuda Halevi, Chaim Nachman Bialik, Saul Tchernikhovsky, Rachel, Uri Zvi Greenburg, Moses Ibn-Ezra, Judah Al-Harizi, Natan Alterman, David Fogel, T. Carmi, Leah Goldberg, and others.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The Elusive Maid by Abraham Ibn Chasdai
Far Sweeter Than Honey by Abraham Ibn Ezra
Father's Gone Far, Far Away by S. Y. Agnon
The Marriage Jester's Song by S. Y. Agnon
Wedding Gifts by S. Y. Agnon
The Maiden by Nathan Alterman
Song To The Wife Of His Youth by Nathan Alterman
If He Returns by Yocheved Bat-miriam
Parting by Yocheved Bat-miriam
Kingdom by Avraham Ben-yitzhak
Strange Matrimony by Isaac Benjacob
The Golden Peacock by Chaim Nachman Bialik
Her Eyes by Chaim Nachman Bialik
How Like Eyes by Chaim Nachman Bialik
Just A Little Note She Wrote Me by Chaim Nachman Bialik
My Garden by Chaim Nachman Bialik
Neither Daily Neither Nightly by Chaim Nachman Bialik
On A Hill by Chaim Nachman Bialik
One Summer Evening by Chaim Nachman Bialik
One Two Three by Chaim Nachman Bialik
Shelter Me Beneath Your Pinion by Chaim Nachman Bialik
Whence And Whither by Chaim Nachman Bialik
Winged Its Way To Me Her Letter by Chaim Nachman Bialik
You're Leaving Me by Chaim Nachman Bialik
Behold, Thou Art Fair by Bible
Hark! My Beloved by Bible
Heed My Words by Bible
I Sleep, But My Heart Waketh by Bible
On My Bed I Sought Him by Bible
Osculetur Me by Bible
Song Of Solomon: The Song Of Songs: 7, Sels. by Bible
Song Of Songs by Bible
Song Of Songs by Bible
Song Of Songs by Bible
Too Wonderful by Bible
A Woman Of Valour by Bible
His Wife by Rachel Bluwstein
Michal by Rachel Bluwstein
Awakening by T. Carmi
Tirzah by Yaacov Cohen
A Father's Wedding Poem To His Son by Joseph Ezobi
Afternoon Light by Yaachov Fichman
Eve by Yaachov Fichman
If Night Nears Your Window by David Fogel
On My Pale Couch, My Body by David Fogel
Sonnet 3 by Lea Goldberg
Sonnet 8 by Lea Goldberg
Like A Woman by Uri Zvi Greenberg
The Apple by Yehuda Halevi
Awake, My Fair by Yehuda Halevi
The Dove by Yehuda Halevi
The Fair Maiden by Yehuda Halevi
Forsaken by Yehuda Halevi
He Cometh by Yehuda Halevi
Love Song by Yehuda Halevi
Marriage Song by Yehuda Halevi
The Mirror by Yehuda Halevi
My Sweetheart's Dainty Lips by Yehuda Halevi
Parting by Yehuda Halevi
A Slave To Love by Yehuda Halevi
To The Bridegroom by Yehuda Halevi
Happiness Amidst Troubles by Immanuel Of Rome
Love Song by Judah Al-harizi
Ophra by Judah Al-harizi
A Secret Kept by Judah Al-harizi
The Unhappy Lover by Judah Al-harizi
Within My Heart by Judah Al-harizi
Hannah by Micah Lebensohn
A Husband's Complaint by Solomon Mandelkern
Elegy by Moses Ibn Ezra
Love Songs: 1. The Splendor Of Thine Eyes by Moses Ibn Ezra
Love Songs: 2. The Hot Flame Of My Grief by Moses Ibn Ezra
Love Songs: 3. Why Should I Grieve? by Moses Ibn Ezra
Love Songs: 4. Beautiful Is The Loved One by Moses Ibn Ezra
Love Songs: 5. When She Plays Upon The Harp Or Lute by Moses Ibn Ezra
Love Songs: 6. Those Beauteous Maids by Moses Ibn Ezra
My Love Is Like A Myrtle by Moses Ibn Ezra
Rejoice, O Youth, In The Lovely Hind by Moses Ibn Ezra
Strange Love by Moses Ibn Ezra
With Hopeless Love by Moses Ibn Ezra
Your Rightful Portion by Moses Ibn Ezra
For A Girl's Tresses by I. Z. Rimon
I Have Learned To Mould by I. Z. Rimon
Love by Samuele Romanelli
A Star There Fell by Zalman Schneour
Loneliness by Hannah Senesh
Man And Wife by Shin Shalom
At Night by Jakov Steinberg
Come, Let Us Exult In Love's Passion by Saul Tchernikhovsky
Longings by Saul Tchernikhovsky
There Was A King In Judah by Saul Tchernikhovsky
With This Ring I Thee Charm by Saul Tchernikhovsky
Ode To A Bridegroom by Anonymous
-- Table of Poems from Poem Finder®

About the Author

David C Gross, Editor; Illustrated by Shrage Weil

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Hippocrene Books (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781804302
• ISBN-13: 978-0781804301
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,408,458 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #98 in Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > Middle Eastern > Hebrew

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Could be improved, December 10, 2000

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This review is from: Hebrew Love Poems (Paperback)

Being a lover of Jewish poetry, I eagerly bought this book when I saw it on your web site. However, I was a bit disappointed. First, because I felt that some of the translations were a bit strained - although I cannot comment on their quality, not speaking the original language of the poems, I had the feeling that in some cases an effort was made to maintain the rhyme, and I believe that, in translating poems (even rhyming ones) one should not try to force rhymes, but stick to the flavor and meanings of the original as close as possible. I have seen few exceptions to this (translations which are poems in their own right, the work of very gifted translators), and that is why I prefer translations who keep to the literal side of the original. Also, I would have enjoyed at least some succint biographical information on the poets or some explanation of the poems' contexts - especially of ancient works. This would have contributed to the richness and completeness of the anthology, which, being as it is, is a bit sparse. In spite of the above, this is an interesting book which contains some very beautiful works deserving of attention.