After the Shiv'a - The Seven Days of Mourning

AFTER THE SHIV'A -
THE SEVEN DAYS OF MOURNING
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TWO POEMS

IN HIS HEARTBLOOD

Dudu Barak
6 November 1995

This song was written in his heartblood,
This song was sung in his heartblood,
This song was scorched in his heartblood,
This song was inscribed in his heartblood,
The song which will not fade.

The man who, as a child, dug a pit profound
And in his youth planted a sapling in in the ground
In manhood went off to battle and war
And in maturity led the flock of the nation to the fore.

This song etc...

The man who sought out peace, sought out tranquillity
Lifted up his blue eyes to the kindly wind
On his lips the song of peace, the hymn of hope,
Which cleaved to his heart in blood and love.

This song etc...

Source: Gad Lior, "Yediot Aharonot", 6 November 1995.
Music: Yoni Ro'eh

NOTES by Gad Lior: Dudu Barak, is known for his lyrics which have become part of the tradition of Israeli national song.
Yoni Ro'eh, young and promising composer.

ENGLISH: Gila Ansell Brauner, 9 November 1995.

MEMORIES OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN

HUSH'D BE THE CAMPS TO-DAY

Walt Whitman

HUSH'D be the camps to-day,
And soldiers let us drape our war-worn weapons,
And each with musing soul retire to celebrate,
Our dear commander's death.

No more for him life's stormy conflicts,
Nor victory, nor defeat--no more time's dark events,
Charging like ceaseless clouds across the sky.

But sing poet in our name,
Sing of the love we bore him--because you, dweller in camps,
know it truly.

As they invault the coffin there,
Sing--as they close the doors of earth upon him--one verse,
For the heavy hearts of soldiers.

From: Whitman, Walt: LEAVES OF GRASS AND SELECTED PROSE,
The Modern Library, New York, 1924.