_The Mendele Review_: Yiddish Literature and Language (A Companion to _MENDELE_) ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 01.007 12 June 1997 1) "Evigingo" by Leyzer Volf ------------------------------------------ Editor's Note: This long poem by the Vilna poet Leyzer Volf (1910-1943) was written in Vilna on the 2nd to the 4th of November 1934 in Latin letters and published "in a small booklet bound in thin rose-colored paper" (Shalom Luria) by the Vilna publisher Gerangl in 1936. No copies of this Latin-letter text are extant (a picture of the title page may be seen in the poet's _Lider_ [New York, 1955], p. 21). Fortunately, the poem had been transcribed into Yiddish letters by the late Leyzer Ran and was thus preserved. The Yiddish text in Yiddish letters given in _Chulyot_ 3 (1996) is here re-romanized, restoring the poem to its approximate original form. The poem appears here with the permission of _Chulyot_, the Israeli Hebrew-language journal devoted to Yiddish studies. To assist the reader, proper names are capitalized (though Yivo practice capitalizes minimally). The glossary only includes words 1) not in the Weinreich 1960 or Harkavi 1928 dictionaries, or 2) of Hebrew-Aramaic origin. Background materials for this poem will appear in _The Mendele Review_ vol. 01.008. Explications of "Evigingo" are invited. 1) "Evigingo" by Leyzer Volf 1. In di faykhte, tife zhunglen*, *UW has _zhonglen_ Oyf* di zumpn Zhabatshuko, *spelled "oyf", pronounced /af/ Bay dem shvartsn vaser Tshungo, Vos in veykhn tol Amiko -- 5. Lebt der alter Gutamingo, Voynt der alter Gutamingo. Esn est er alte shlangen, Feygl-eyer, blinde-verim, Zhabes, fish mit grine oygn, 10. Veverkes vos kenen flien, Mayzlekh, vos dertseylen mayses, Malpes, vos farshiltn skeynim. Nit gehat hot er keyn yugnt- Tsayt der alter Gutamingo. 15. Zumpn hobn im geborn Alterheyt mit krume beyner, Zhabes zaynen zayne oygn, Bushlen -- zayne fis fun fleker, Zayne hent -- vi alte shlangen, 20. Zayne hor -- vi groe derner. Shteyendik in vaser shloft er, Ven er geyt, di malpes lakhn: -- Oto geyt er, Gutamingo, Der tsedreyter alter flokn! 25. Un di vevriklekh di shtifers, Varfn nislekh im in ponim: Nor der groer Leyb der eltster Hot nokh farn altn opshay Un der alter Gutamingo 30. Klogt far im in tifn ovnt: -- Vey tsu mayne alte yorn! Shver iz mir shoyn umtsushprayzn In di zhunglen, oyf* di zumpn, pronounced /af/ Zukhn shpayz far mayne tseyner, 35. Vos tsebreklen zikh fun altkayt. Shver iz mir shoyn ayntsushlingen A butshan* in dem frimorgn UW has _botshan_ Un a yungn ber in ovnt. Kh'darf shoyn brenen oyfn* fayer pronounced /afn/ 40. Far mayn zun in roytn fayer Darf ikh zayn a shtik gebrotns -- Vey tsu mir ikh hob keyn zun nit! Ver vet mayne beyner lekn, Zey tsevarfn in di zumpn, 45. Shtorkhn zoln nemen shprotsn Hoykh fun mayne alte beyner? Ver vet mayne oygn leygn In di toln arum felzn, Laykhtn zoln zey far groe 50. Blinde velf oyf* nakht-geyegn? *pronounced /af/ Ver vet mayne hor farflantsn Tsvishn derner, harte grozn, Tomer vet a foygl faln, Zol er nit tseshtokhn vern? 55. Ver vet mayne tseyn farzetsn Oyf* di berglekh, vaksn zoln * pronouncd /af/ Vayse, shlanke, zise boymlekh -- Yunge kales far di vintn? Vey tsu mir, ikh hob keyn zun nit! 60. Vey tsu mir, ikh hob keyn zun nit! Un der groyer Leyb der eltster Iz gezesn lang, geshvign, Mitn ek geklapt, gezhmuret Mit di gele, kalte oygn 65. Un zikh plutslung opgerufn Mit a kol, fartoybt fun altkayt: -- Draysik nekht oyf* dorem-mizrekh * pronounced /af/ (last reminder) Gey on opru un on vaser, Vestu trefn zibn berglekh, 70. Eyner hekher fun dem tsveytn: Oyf a felz fun hekhstn bergl Zitst di sove Anakumis, Zibn oygn in ir shtern, Draytsn finger oyf ir horn. 75. Zog tsu ir eyn vort pamelekh, Gor pamelekh: E v i g i n g o! -- Un du vest geholfn vern. Gey mit glik, un zorg nit, alter. Hot der alter Gutamingo 80. Lang geglet dem Leyb dem groen, Im gedankt un zikh gezegnt, Zikh gelozt oyf dorem-mizrekh Geyn on opru un on vaser. Draysik nekht zaynen avek shoyn. 85. Un nito di zibn berglekh Un di sove Anakumis. Berglekh zaynen do, nor akhtsik, Shpitsike, vi sharfe tseyner. Un oyf zey, geyt um Levone, 90. Tokhter fun der nakht, Levone: -- Tokhter fun der nakht, Levone -- Zogt der alter Gutamingo -- Efsher veystu, libe tokhter, Vu di zibn berglekh zaynen 95. Fun der sove Anakumis? Kh'darf zi hobn, kh'muz zi fregn: E v i g i n g o! E v i g i n g o! E v i g i n g o! Ruik entfert di Levone, Geyendik oyf gele fislekh: 100. -- Vu di vintn zaynen draytsn, Oyf di hoyle tseyn fun korn Vu di Libe veynt gelasn, Oyf a faygn-boym baym vaser, Vu di shtern tantsn shiker, 105. Glaykh un glaykh, durkh zump un zorgn, Eyernekhtn oyf a flokn, Zitst di sove Anakumis, Zog ir zikher: E v i g i n g o! Dankt der alter un er lozt zikh 110. Vayter geyn di sove zukhn. Shteyndldik der veg, di faylen Zhumen giftik in der luftn. Royte vintn, bloye felzn, Melkt der teyl (zikh?) in a kerbl. 115. S'efnt zikh di erd mit fayer Un farmakht zikh mit a duner. Mid iz Gutamingo, s'vign Zikh di kni vi shvere shiflekh, S'noygt zikh tsu der erd zayn shtern 120. Un er flistert: E v i g i n g o!... Plutslung: a farbrenter zhungl. Oyf di gliendike tsvaygn Fun a grobn boym in faln Flit a ku mit dine herner 125. Un di federn fun zilber. -- -- Libe Ku, du gute getin, Vos du gist gor milkh dayn soyne. Zog mir, efsher veystu vu di Sove Anakumis nekhtikt? 130. Kh'muz zi hobn, kh'muz zi fregn: Evigingo... Evigingo... S'hot di ku gehat rakhmones Oyfn hartn, blindn zokn, Un zi hot im milkh gegebn 135. Fun ir fuln, vaysn ayter, Un zi hot gezogt gelasn Kayendik di shvere verter: Zibn vegn fun albaster Kreytsn iber akht fun gingold, 140. Yogn zikh tsum Palats Bonum Fun der getin Atenada. Un der palats iz fun marmor* UW _marmer_; see _Oytser_ 204 Vays vi shoym fun vaserfaln; In ir sod di shvere epl 145. Laykhtn vi levones fule; Ire brist -- vi zilber-koyln Ven di zun geyt oyf* in mizrekh, *spelled "oyf", pronounced /uf/ Ire hor fun heln honik, Ire oygn -- nakht un samet, 150. Ire hent vi tsarte shlangen Arum Libesgot farflokhtn: 'Cupid'; see NHG Liebesgott Vestu faln afn shtern, Nont tsu ire kleyne fislekh (_Nont_= _Noent_) Un aroysklogn gelasn: 155. Evigingo... Evigingo... Dankt der alter un er lozt zikh Oyf di vegn fun albaster, Mide shlofn oyf di vegn, Ayngeshpant in purpur-vogns, 160 Eyzlen, blut un shveys un tsirung, Shtet un templen, zayln, geter, Blut, gelekhter, gold un shande, Yogn zikh nokh rum un koved, Yogn zikh tsum Palats Bonum, 165. Fun der getin Atenada; Un der palats iz fun marmor, Nor in blut un flamen shteyt er, Un in palats oyf di kishns Ligt di sheyne getin shiker, 170. Fun a krankhayt ufgefresn Vi a shlang fun ferd tsetrotn. Arum ir di shvartse meydlekh Tsitern in shrek un trern. Falt der alter tsu di fislekh 175. Fun der durkhgefoylter getin Un er flistert un er bet zikh: Evigingo... Evigingo... -- Evigingo -- tsit di getin Vi a hemshekh fun ir kholem, -- 180. Heyln tunkele un lange, Derner un neshome-laydn, Bloe libe on a grenets, On a guf un on a zinen, Tslomim shvartse, vundn royte, 185. Mantlen-nakht un hertser-fayer, Hayzer shpitsike vi shpizn, Tirn, fenster -- shmol vi finger -- Un in kalter vant farmoyert, Mitn markh tsum shteyn geshlosn, 190. Oyf di fis -- a keyt fun ayzn Un dos harts in tash fun Tayvl -- Evigingo... Evigingo... Dankt der alter un er lozt zikh Vayter zukhn Evigingon. 195. Vegn tsien zikh geflastert Vegn-vald un vegn-vaser, Un er geyt durkh koridorn Ful mit bikher un monakhn, Durkh di harte gratn kukt er 200. Oyf di hoykhe kloyster-shpitsn. Gleker klingen, bleter klogn, Shayter-hoyfns oyf di pletser, Betndike hent in fayer Un der oylem in hislayves 205. Oyf di kni aropgeboygn. Geyt der alter un er veys nit Vemen fregn, vemen betn; Ale hobn epes moyre Verter afn lip tsu brengen. 210. Rayter oyf di ferd bapantsert, Shtekhn zikh mit lange shpizn, Tomer redstu, tomer fregstu, Tomer vilstu epes visn. Diner, ferd un knekht, baronen 215. Filn oys di shtet un derfer. In di shenken -- vayn un vayber, Oyf di felder -- blut un baytshn. Zitst der alter Gutamingo Eyn mol in a kleynem shenkl; 220. Mid iz er fun veg. Di torbe Leygt er unter zikh arunter Un er bet a glezl roytvayn Ontsuvaremen di glider. Plutslung zetst zikh a parshoyn tsu 225. Tsu zayn tishl mit a glezl Ful mit vayn, tsi gor mit fayer; Epes a fardekhtik-hoykher, In a hoykhn hut mit zibn Pave-federn vi bloe 230. Lange dine flater flamen; Oyf di finger trogt er ringen Ful mit groyse eydlshteyner Regnboygndik tseblitste; Shmole hoyzn trogt er, grine, 235. Durkhgevebt mit zilber-fedem Un in hant -- a baytsh fun leder, Ayngeshmidt in bronz un kuper. Shiker iz er kentik zeyer; Oyf di grobe, frekhe lipn 240. Shpringt arum a faykhter shmeykhl, Vi a zhabe oyf a bretl. -- Her Baron fon Pan Pantofl! -- Shtelt er for zikh farn altn, Klapndik zayn gloz on glezl 245. Fun dershtoyntn Gutamingon, Trinkt er hilkhik, nokher zogt er: -- Vos iz dayn bager? -- un kh'gib dir! Ikh bin itst in a zeyer zeyer Ufgeleygter, guter shtimung 250. Un dayn yetvider farlang vet Momental farvirklekht vern... Shtamlt Gutamingo shoyn vi Durkh a nepl fun fargesung: Evigingo... Evigingo... 255. -- Evigingo? -- fregt er iber Der parshoyn Baron Pantofl -- Vos iz dos?... Aza min khaye? Prehistorye?... Mitlelter?... Evi... gingo... evig... evig... 260. A germanish vort... ikh veys shoyn... Germanistik... gut, bakumst es! Kh'vel dir onshraybn a brivl Tsu mayn fraynt Gehaymrat Gete, Homonukulus un Her Faust. (_homunculus_+ extra syllable for meter) 265. Nokh a shtempl vestu geyn tsum Mesye Napoleon fun Frankraykh, Kinig iber Praysn, Shpanye, Un Katara Blindekishke; Di tseteylung fun Eyrope 270. Vet dikh fertlen in Shvetsarye, / Fu, es dreyt zikh mir in kop shoyn Vi di erd arum di zun-shayn!/ Nokh der letster ekspeditsye, In a fleshl fun shampanyer, 275. Fest farkorkevet in Poyln Fun a vildn vitse-kenig Iber Afrikaner Lite, Bay Napoleon in vestl, Oyfn indzl Krankekhyene -- 280. Ligt er un er drimlt ruik In di vikelekh fun khemye, Oyf a shlitn fun a genets -- Evigingo... Evigingo... Gutamingo hot genumen 285. S'brivl tsum Gehaymrat Gete Un gelozt zikh oyf di vegn Keyn Germanye un keyn Vaymar, Nor der veg iz lang un glitshik Un er firt arop in toln. 290. Gete iz shoyn lang geshtorbn, Karl Marks iz shoyn gekumen, Arbeter in royte bluzes Flatern in kamf oyf gasn. Felker greytn tsu milkhome, 295. Pantser-shifn, toyt, shigoen. Gutamingo iz farmatert Shoyn fun langn gang, er vil shoyn, Oystsien di kalte beyner, Shlofn, shlofn, toyb un eybik. 300. Nor di erd -- zi lozt nit shlofn, Fil iz zi mit groyl un fayer. Meysim-berg oyf ale felder, Shteyt in mentshn-fleysh farzunken. S'klogt di erd, geshendt, der himl 305. Veynt mit bombes un mit shifn. Eyn sekund nor vert es heler -- Moskve flit -- a fayer foygl, Fliglen-breyte finf-yor plener Un der ek -- a shvere fone 310. Ayngenetst in blut fun heldn. Mitn shtoyb fun toyznt vegn Kumt keyn Moskve Gutamingo. Oyfn Roytn Plats in ovnt Shteyt er farn toytn Lenin 315. Un er shmeykhlt un er flistert: Evigingo... Evigingo... Vos-zhe redstu? Vos-zhe shiltstu? -- Zogt der vakh-soldat tsum altn -- Voser Mingo? Velkher Shmingo? 320. Do iz nor der khaver Lenin Un ikh hit im! Trog zikh vayter. Gey tsum Khaver Mirograyev, Er vet dir shoyn alts derklern... Evigingo... Evigingo... 325. Dankt der alter un er lozt zikh Tsum Profesor Mirograyev. Ale veysn un men vayzt im: Dortn afn hoykhn bergl Shteyt a zayl, a riz, a turem, 330. Dreyen zikh arum di volkns. Ineveynik in dem turem Geyen tishn, mentshn, kinder, Fun metal, fun pelts un vate. Der profesor in a peltsl 335. Est a floym fun der levone, Redt zikh mitn Mars un vitslt Zikh mit der planet Venere. Oyf a shpulik bay zayn oyer Dreyt zikh undzer erd arumet, 340. Shtern kukn in di fenster, Shitn zikh un lakhn likhtik. -- O, vos makhstu, Gutamingo? Alt-getrayer fraynd, vos makhstu? Un vos makht dayn zun, der liber 345. Mitn nomen Evigingo? Gut, ikh vel dir makhn yinger. Zets zikh, ru zikh op a rege -- Un er efent oyf a kastn Ful mit lebedike hertser: 350. Klayb zikh oys a harts, mayn liber, Klayb zikh oys a harts, nu gikher: Fartik! Itster verstu yinger! Kreftiker, gezinter, frisher, Shtel zikh tsu der arbet, flinker! 355. Bist an arbeter gevorn! Itster vilstu fliglen? -- bite! Nor vos darfstu, khaver, fliglen? Zets zikh in harmat, ikh gib a Shos -- Du flist tsu alde heln! 360. Ot bistu oyf der levone, Smetene iz do der bodn, Un ot bistu oyf der zun shoyn, Zis iz zi un gel vi honik. Kh'tunk dir op in vundervaser -- 365. Un a kind bistu a nakets, Kleyne fligelekh vi bletlekh -- Un du flaterst tsvishn shtern Biz du verst aleyn a shtern. Itster kum tsurik arunter 370. Oyf der proster erd a bisl. Kh'flants dir ayn di frishe drizn, Ufgehodevet in vinum Gumilekmirum kadokhes Un du verst a riz, a giber, 375. Du tseraybst di erd oyf arbes Un du kokhst an arbes-kashe, Un du gist a bloz -- farleshn Zikh di shtern, di levone; Mit der zun vi mit a zeneft 380 Raybstu ayn dayn kranke pleytse. Finster vert in ale roymen, Gornisht, nor dayn kranke pleytse. Un du bist mir shoyn deresn, Nem ikh un ikh gib dir shmekn 385. Shmekmir um etumarumet -- Un es vert fun dir a graypl Un fun graypl vert a pulver, Un fun pulver vert a vintl, Un fun vintl vert an otem, 390. Un fun otem vert a blezl, Un fun blezl vert a burbl, Un fun burbl blaybt a shoyml, Shoyml-shimer-gorgl-gornisht; Gornisht verstu in dem gornisht 395. Un ikh makh a nayem gornisht, Erd un vaser, zun un fayer, A levone fun a blekhl Un a yingl fun a bebl. Vert mir umetik -- tsemakh ikh, Vert mir troyerik -- bashaf ikh Erd un himl, 400. Meydl -- yingl, Gutamingl, Evigingl.** ** My thanks to Hugh Denman for double-checking my romanization -- ed. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Glossary burbl (back formation from _burbele_ 'bubble'?) no citation found fleker (s.: flokn) 'poles' flistert v. _flistern_ 'to whisper' cf. NHG. _fluestern_ gezhmuret p.ppl. of v. _zhmuren_ 'to squint' giber (pl.: giboyrim) 'hero' hislayves (< Hebrew _hislahavus_) 'enthusiasm';cf.Mod. Heb._hitlahavut_ kadokhes 'ague, fever; nothing' levones (s.: levone) 'moons' mayses (s.: mayse) 'stories' meysim (s.: meys) 'corpses' rege (pl. reges) 'minute' shigoen (pl.:shigonen / shigoynes) 'madness' shpulik (variant of_shpulke_in Vilna acc.to Shalom Luria)no cit.found skeynim (s.: zokn) 'old men; old people' tslomim (s.: tseylem) 'crosses' zokn (pl.: skeynim) 'old man' ______________________________________________________ End of _The Mendele Review_ vol. 01, no. 007 Leonard Prager, editor Please direct all correspondence to: Leonard Prager 13/35 Dr. Kauders St. Haifa 35439, Israel email: lprager@research.haifa.ac.il