| Joseph Friedlander, comp. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse. 1917. | | | | Longing for Jerusalem | | By Judah Ha-Levi (Trans. Emma Lazarus) |
| | | O CITY of the world, with sacred splendor blest, | |
| My spirit yearns to thee from out the far-off West, | |
| A stream of love wells forth when I recall thy day, | |
| Now is thy temple waste, thy glory passed away. | |
| Had I an eagle’s wings, straight would I fly to thee, | 5 |
| Moisten thy holy dust with wet cheeks streaming free. | |
| Oh, how I long for thee! albeit thy King has gone, | |
| Albeit where balm once flowed, the serpent dwells alone. | |
| Could I but kiss thy dust, so would I fain expire, | |
| As sweet as honey then, my passion, my desire! | 10 | | | |
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