Religion
My Heart is in the East
Translated by Nina Salaman (1924) · From Selected Poems of Jehudah Halevi (Jewish Publication Society, 1924)
My heart is in the east, and I in the uttermost west—
How can I find savour in food? How shall it be sweet to me?
How shall I render my vows and my bonds, while yet
Zion lieth beneath the fetter of Edom, and I in Arab chains?
A light thing would it seem to me to leave all the good things of Spain—
Seeing how precious in mine eyes it is to behold the dust of the desolate sanctuary.
Codex Note
Salaman no. 1. The Journey to Zion.
Cite this poem
MLA
Halevi, Judah. “My Heart is in the East.” Translated by Nina Salaman. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/judah-halevi/7/.
Chicago
Halevi, Judah. “My Heart is in the East.” Translated by Nina Salaman. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/judah-halevi/7/.
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