From songs of my love land - lea goldberg (תרגום 'משירי ארץ אהבתי' מאת לאה גולדברג לאנגלית)

This is a literal translation of the Hebrew poem ''From songs of my love land" ('משירי ארץ אהבתי') from Lea Goldberg which now days is among one of the most known poems by her to the people in Israel. This following text is not a translated poem, since I am not an hebrew-english translator and also no poet. Therefor I didn't write here a poem, only a literal translation of the words themselves. 

If someone wants to hear the original poem as it is in Hebrew, it's available on the net. Videos of the hebrew versions by Chava Alberstein (חווה אלברשטיין) and Ruth Dolores Weiss (רות דולורס וייס) are easy to be found. There is also an audio record of Lea Goldberg (לאה גולדברג) herself speaking the poem. 

I'm no professional and every notification on mistakes will be appreciated.  


* The Hebrew word mechora [mexora] means in Hebrew 'homeland', or better - Heimat. Still it is very hard to transform the full meaning of this word to English, especially when it comes with a first person possessive pronoun. The same root is used in Hebrew also for 'sold' (ausverkauft), and 'Addicted' (süchtig).  


* In the past most of the interpreters in Israel explained this song as if it was a love song to the country of Israel. In the last years there was a shift and now most of the interpreters believe this song is a love song to Lithuania, where Lea Goldberg was born. I myself like to see this song as if it was written about Goldberg herself, about her own life, on her own love life, or maybe her spiritual life (as a woman writer). I believe it doesn't talk about any phyisical territory. Therefor I also find Ruth Dolores Weiss's cover most appropriate. 

משירי ארץ אהבתי

My homeland, a poor flower land -
The queen has no house, the king got no crown

And the spring comes only for seven days a year

And the rest of it - darkness, clouds and rain

But for seven days the roses are blumming

And for seven days the dew shines

And for seven days the windows stay open

And all your baggers are standing out by the street

And endure their pale faces towards the carrying light

And all your baggers are merry

My homeland, a poor flower land -

The queen has no house, the king got no crown

Only seven days there are holidays, in the all year long

And the rest of it - labor and starvation

But seven days the candles are blessed

And for seven days tables ready for fest

And for seven days the hearts are wide open

And all your baggers stands in pray

And your sons and daughters being bridge and bridegroom

And all your baggers are being brothers

My miserable, my poor and bitter
The queen has no house, the king got no crown -

Only one in the all world spoked praise on you  

And the rest - on your disgrace and shame

And therefor I will go to any street and corner,

To every market and yard and alleyway and garden,

And from your demolished walls, every little stone -

I will pick up and save as a souvenir.

And from city to city, from country to country
I will wander around with a song, and a music-box
To mourn your glowing poverty.

And therefor I will go to any street and corner,

To every market and yard and alleyway and garden,

And from your demolished walls, every little stone -

I will pick up and save as a souvenir.

And from city to city, from country to country
I will wander around with a song, and a music-box
To mourn your glowing poverty.