History & Politics
The Golden Calf
Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring (1908) · From Romancero: Book I. Histories
Fiddle, flute, and horn uniting,
To the idol-dance inviting--
Round the golden calf with springing
All of Jacob’s daughters come--
Brum--brum--brum--
Kettle drums and laughter ringing!
Girding up their tunics lightly,
Clasping hands together tightly,
Noble maidens, off’rings bringing,
Twist, like whirlwinds at the least,
Round the beast--
Kettle drums and laughter ringing!
Aaron’s self joins in the mazy
Circling dance with motions crazy;
His concerns not looking after,
Skips he, in his high-priest’s coat,
Like a goat--
Kettle drums and ringing laughter!
Cite this poem
MLA
Heine, Heinrich. “The Golden Calf.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/heine/492/.
Chicago
Heine, Heinrich. “The Golden Calf.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/heine/492/.
Read this poem with the Codex →