Judah Ha-Levi (Trans. H. Pereira Mendes). My Heart Is in the East. Friedlander, Joseph, comp. 1917. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse

Joseph Friedlander, comp. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse. 1917.

My Heart Is in the East

By Judah Ha-Levi (Trans. H. Pereira Mendes)


MY heart is in the East, tho’ in the West I live,
The sweet of human life no happiness can give,
Religion’s duties fail to lift my soul on high;
’Neath Edom Zion writhes, in Arab chains I lie!
No joy in sunny Spain mine eyes can ever see	5
For Zion, desolate, alone hath charms for me!