Soar: although the sky is cool,
and all the earth, soar to Orion;
be strong, though not like ox or mule,
but independent as a lion.
Soar, the world is at your feet,
and you may even reach the stars,
and if you can’t, don’t let defeat
cause you to land up on your arse.
Inspired by a one verse poem by Shmu’el Hanagid (993-1056) , translated by Peter Cole in The Dream of the Poem: Hebrew Poems from Muslim and Christian Spain 950-1492 (62) , to which I have added a second verse:
SOAR, DON’T SETTLE
Soar, don’t settle for the earth
and sky—soar to Orion;
and be strong, but not like an ox or mule
that’s driven—strong like a lion.
10/26/07
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem