If I Forget Thee, Jerusalem

If I Forget Thee, Jerusalem

If I forget thee, Jerusalem,
Then let my right be forgotten.
Let my right be forgotten, and my left remember.
Let my left remember, and your right close
And your mouth open near the gate.

 I shall remember Jerusalem
And forget the forest -- my love will remember,
Will open her hair, will close my window,
will forget my right,
Will forget my left.

If the west wind does not come
I'll never forgive the walls,
Or the sea, or myself.
Should my right forget
My left shall forgive,
I shall forget all water,
I shall forget my mother.

If I forget thee, Jerusalem,
Let my blood be forgotten.
I shall touch your forehead,
Forget my own,
My voice change
For the second and last time
To the most terrible of voices --
Or silence.

Originally found here

Related Articles

More From Poetry

One Moment Please

Is it convenient to know when you will die?To have the extra moments to say good-bye?Maybe to…
One Moment Please

A Date With?

Time is everything. Death knows nothing.Time can bring every pleasure known,And even bringing…
A Date With?

Eyes

I’ve seen innocent eyes, living out their fantasyEyes not trying to hide, naked to ecstasy.I’ve…
Eyes

Books of the Bible

In Genesis the world was made by God's creative hand;In Exodus the Hebrews march to gain the…
Books of the Bible

The Chase

It was a typical dayOf all work and no play,For this cop of chain and ball.He'd hide over a…
The Chase
Complaining Bears No Fruit

Complaining Bears No Fruit

My beloved adonai, i know that you love me.My beloved adonai, i know that you care.But when you…
Complaining Bears No Fruit

Good Morning My God

When I awake, You are the first thought on my mind.When I awake, the joy of Your presence is…
Good Morning My God

Anne Frank Poem

A simple girl with great ambitions, that wereNever to be fulfilled; butNeither to go unnoticed,…
Anne Frank Poem

Dry Dry Dry

'Twas in the desert Dry and parched I did seek For it was there my thirst grew strongest And it…
Dry Dry Dry

Shabbat Poem

O' people, dear people the Sabbath day has comeand we are gathered as a familywith the setting…
Shabbat Poem

In Passing Hellos

That’s all we can afford to give.We've been made to feel afraid of each other.They tell us each…
In Passing Hellos

How Much Does a Prayer Weigh?

Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery…
How Much Does a Prayer Weigh?

The Warring

Have you heard of an age of love without time? How can this be? Life is marked by pain 'within'…
The Warring

The Fee

In the waning light Evil smiles, His roaring time is presently here. He watches the masses rush…
The Fee

Avinu Malkenu

Avinu Malkenu, please show me how to get closer to You.
Avinu Malkenu

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation