Ben Nachmani

"O the brightness, clearness, beauty of heaven!
Seer Ben Nachmani," Rabbi Levi said,
"Of the Hagada Master thou of seven,
Would that I knew whence Light, its fountainhead?"
The Master whispered in the Rabbi's ear:
"The Holy One, blessëd be He, in white
Himself doth robe, and then the whole world clear
In beauty glows with His majestic light."
"Sayest thou so? That's word for word the psalm:
'The light Thy garment is which Thou dost wear.'
Thou tell'st it here a secret 'neath the palm,
O Master thou of seven with whitened hair!"

And softer fell the Master's whispered word:
"I heard it this; O Rabbi, hast thou heard?"