One, Two

One, Two
by Haim Nahman Byalik (1873-1934)
translated into English from the original Hebrew


One, two, three, four —
find yourself a wife — choose her!
Do not dally, don't be late
or someone else'll get there first.

I myself found me some honey
but it never came to my lips.
Two she had her, this one widow:
one brunette and one had fair hair.

Not girls-pearls,
fillies fine and gorgeous,
the joy of whoever saw their face
and I loved both of them.

But who'll foretell and who'll say
which of them I loved more.
The time went, I don't know how
I dillydallied, dillydallied.

Suddenly a demon came and scarfed them
a demon with a ponytail and handlebar mustache.
And I remained, silly bugger,
an old bachelor ever after.

And from this to all the young men
a moral to the wise and let who learns learn.

One, two, three, four —
find yourself a wife — choose her!
Do not dally, don't be late
or someone else'll get there first. 

The heart shaped lampwork glass bead pictured above was handcrafted by Rose (the Beadshaper). You can see more of Rose's creations online at Beadshaper . If you will be in the San Francisco Bay area on Saturday, July 6, Rose will be featuring her work in a trunk show at the Studio Seven Art Gallery in Pleasanton, California. Please come over and visit.