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A Long Bough
A bough sank down on a fence, and fell asleep –
so shall I sleep.
The fruit has fallen; and what do I care
for my root and stock?

The fruit has fallen, the flower is long forgotten,
only leaves remain.
One day a storm will rage and they will fall,
casualties, to earth.

Afterwards, terrible nights.
No respite, no sleep.
I wrestle alone in darkness, batter
my head on the wall.

Spring will blossom again.  Only I
hang on to my stem –
bald shoot with no bud and no flower
no fruit and no leaf.

© Chaim Nachman Bialik
From: Shirim
Publisher: Dvir, Tel Aviv, 1966


© Translation: 1981, Ruth Nevo
From: Chaim Nachman Bialik: The Selected Poems
Publisher: Dvir, Tel Aviv, 1981
ISBN: 965-01-0053-9