MANDORLA

 
In the almond — what stands in the almond?
The Nothing.
In the almond stands Nothing.
There it stands and stands.

 
In the Nothing — who stands there? The King.
There stands the King, the King.
There he stands and stands.

 
Jewish curls, no gray for you.

 
And your eye — whereto stands your eye?
Your eye stands opposite the almond.
Your eye, the Nothing it stands opposite.
It stands by the King.
So it stands and stands.

 
Human curls, no gray for you.
Empty almond, kingly blue.


 
 
[Translation © 2001 by John Felstiner]