Judah Halevi

1075-1141 / Toledo

My Heart Is in the East

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
For Zion, desolate, alone hath charms for me!

translated by H. Pereira Mendes
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