Itzik Manger: Abraham and Sarah

Abraham and Sarah
by Itzik Manger

“Abie, when will we have child?
We’re both already old folks
Everyone knows a woman old as I
has been due for the eighteenth time.”

Abraham Our Father smiles and is mute
and puffs away smoking his pipe:
“Have faith my wife, if  He on High wills
then even a broom can shoot.”

“Abie, Listen up, every night
I hear how my body sobs
And Hagar is still only your maid
And I am your only true wife.

Often I think that the star in the window
is really the soul of our child,
that wanders around every night
among rain and shadows and wind”

Our father Abraham smiles and is mute
and puffs away smoking his pipe
“Have Faith my wife. If  He on High wills
then even a broom can shoot.”

Sometimes when I see how Hagar’s child
plays with the sun in the sand,
and I give him a pat on his little head,
a strange sadness comes into my hand.

And when I take him to me on my lap
and he smiles so cleverly and good,
my eyes grow damp and large
and a strange sadness comes into my blood.

Abie, when will we have a child?
We’re both already old folks.
Everyone knows a woman old as I
could be due for the eighteenth time.”

Abraham Our Father smiles and is mute
and puffs away smoking his pipe:
“Have faith my wife, if  He on High wills,
than even a broom can shoot.”