Shabazi Poem by Abraham Sutzkever

Three hundred donkeys loaded with poems
— As it is told —
The poet Shabazi
Drove them from Yemen
To Eretz Israel.

Three hundred donkeys loaded with poems.
On a white donkey
Among his poems
The poet rode
Into the distance
Chirping like a bird
From his own Siddur.

Poet Shabazi,
I envy you —
Your donkeys did not tread in vain.
At your grandson's wedding, your sounds hover
Like doves adorned with golden bells.

And my donkeys,
Not so stubborn,
Did not get here with their songs.

1950