In memory of August 12, 1952
An untitled poem.

* * *

I put on the darkness
Over my head, my arms, my feet . . .
I walk around in a big black tallis
With tattered black edges trailing
Clawing at black walls.

Black infinities drag after me
Tangled together with distance.
Worldly emptiness is open to me
And there I step on
Black wandering maids.

I’m walking in my crown:
Black heights springing from me
Black distance stretching from me
Black earth away from me
And from all sides
Black horses jumping on me!

Peretz Markish
1917