Mome
[Mother] *
[See lectures: Tree of Life / Mothers and Fathers]
Shteyt a boym, inmitn feld, mit file prakht, | A magnificent tree stands in the middle of the field, |
Mit fil zorg, bavasert ir, tog un nakht, | With much care it is watered day and night, |
Shteyt der gertner dort dernebn, | The gardner stands nearby, |
mit fil getrayshaft , azoy ibergegeybn. | With much faithfulness, so devoted. |
Kukt tsum boym, derzeyt di frukht, | Looks at the tree, sees the fruit of his labor, |
Zaftik sheyn, mit azoyfil tam iz zi. | It is juicy, beautiful, with so much flavor, |
Genisn fun di peyres, s’iz tsayt, | It’s time to enjoy the fruit, |
Hanoe fun vos er hot ayngezayt. | To derive pleasure from what he sowed. |
Hazoyrim bedimo—mit azoyfil yegie, | “They that sow in tears”—with so much toil, |
A sheyvekh farn boyre oylom, a groyse zekhiye, | Praise for the Creator of the Universe, a great honor, |
Baygeshtanen zenen zey fil shturems in gefar, | They resisted many storms and dangers, |
Mit shire tsum bashefer derfar, | With song to the Creator for this, |
Oz yeraneni atsey yoar ... | “Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy...” |
Ki ha-odam der mentsh tsum boym, iz dokh glaykh, | Because a person is similar to a tree, |
Mome mayn, farzeyen iz dayn fakh, | Mother of mine, to sow is your trade, |
Mit tfile tsu hashem borekh shmoy, | With prayer to G-d, blessed be His name, |
Khanoykh lana’ar al pi darkhoy. | “Educate the youth according to his ways.” |
Nisht umzist iz dayn mi, Mome mayn, | Not in vain was your labor, mother of mine, |
Di peyres shteyen du rayf far dir haynt, | The fruits are here, ripe for you today, |
Ikh blik tsurik, di yorn zikh geplogt, | I look back, the years that you toiled, |
Ikh bin dir shuldik, azoyfil in dem tog. | I owe you so much on this day. |
Hazoyrim bedimo—mit azoyfil yegie, | “They that sow in tears?—with so much toil, |
A sheyvekh farn boyre oylam, a groyse zekhiye, | Praise for the Creator of the Universe, a great honor, |
Oy ashray li, vi bin ikh zoykhe dertsu, | Oh, I am happy, how could I have earned the honor |
Az ikh hob aza mome vi du, | To have such a mother as you, |
Aza geshank fin hakodoysh borekh hu. | Such a present from the Holy One, Blessed be He. |
Ver is nokh azoy vi mir, aza bal khoyv? | Who else is as much in debt as am I? |
Far dir, Mome, shuldik fil hakores hatoyv, | To you, mother, I owe much gratitude, |
Oy ashray li, vi bin ikh zoykhe dertsu, | Oh, I am happy, how could I have earned the honor |
Az ikh hob aza mome vi du. | To have such a mother as you, |
Aza geshank fin hakuodoysh borekh hu! | Such a present from the Holy One, Blessed be He. |
Copied from the article by Ester-Basya (Asya) Vaisman, "She who seeks shall find": The role of song in a Hasidic woman's life cycle. Journal of Synagogue Music, Fall 2010, Vol.35
