Hebrew Poems from Spain

Introduction Foreword by Raymond Scheindlin A Note on the Translations Bibliography Dunash Halevi ben Labrat Reply to an Invitation to a Feast * A Song for the Sabbath Joseph ibn Abithur Sanctification * A Song for the New Year * Lamentation on the Devastation of the Land of Israel (1012) Isaac ibn Kalpon A Present of Cheese Samuel Hanagid In Praise of Wine * An Invitation * The Power of the Pen * On the Death of his Brother * Man Runs Towards the Grave * The Old Man's Warning * The Hour in which I am * Two Bouts of Woe * I Look Up to the Sky * The Citadel * God's Assurance *The Victory over Ben Abbad * A Message to his Son, Joseph, on the Raising of the Siege of Lorca * War * Israel, Arise * The Wounded Lion Solomon ibn Gabirol An Apple for Isaac * The Writing of Winter * In Mourning for Yekutiel * On the Death of Rab hai * Separation from the Torah * His Illness * In the Morning I Look for you * The Unity of God Isaac ibn Gi'at The Greatness of God Moses ibn Ezra The Garden of Song * The Coming of Spring * The Sources of my Being * To Isaac, his Brother * Let Man Remember * Where are the Graves? * Slaves and Masters Judah Halevi Dialogue between Israel and God * Israel's Complaint * Curtains of Solomon * Save my People * The Servant of God * Heal me, my God *Singing God's Praises * My Heart is in the East * Jerusalem * Mount Avarim *Self-Exhortation to make the Journey to Israel * The Poet is Urged to Remain in Spain * The Pet Remembers his Home * The Poet Remembers his Family during a Storm at Sea * The Western Breeze * Storm at Sea * The Army of Old Age * To Moses ibn Ezra, in Christian Spain * Among the Jews of Seville * The Apple *My Love Washes her Clothes Abraham ibn Ezra Luckless * I Have a Garment * God Supreme * All Glory to his Name * How is it You have not Given this Thought? * On the Death of his Son, Isaac Joseph ibn Zabara The Doctor Judah Alharizi A Secret Kept * The Lute Sounds Shem Tob ben Palquera If Fear is like a Rock Todros ben Judah Abulafia From Prison Notes Index of First Lines (English) Index of First Lines (Hebrew)

The years 950-1200 have often been called the Golden Age of the Jews in Spain. During this period, the Jews reached a peak of achievement in all aspects of their life--political, spiritual and cultural. They produced great works of literature and philosophy; their poetry represented a peak of literary achievement unparalleled in Hebrew until the 20th century.