Twilight of a Golden Age: Selected Poems of Abraham Ibn Ezra (Judaic Studies Series)

501 Pages·1997·5.61 MB·English

by  Abraham Ibn Ezra

Twilight of a Golden Age : Selected Poems
title: of Abraham Ibn Ezra Judaic Studies Series
(Unnumbered)
Ibn Ezra, Abraham ben Meèir.;
author:
Weinberger, Leon J.
publisher: University of Alabama Press
isbn10 | asin: 0817308784
print isbn13: 9780817308780
ebook isbn13: 9780585261485
language: English
Ibn Ezra, Abraham ben Meïr,--1092-
subject
1167--Translations into English.
publication date: 1997
lcc: PJ5050.I18A25 1997eb
ddc: 892.4/12
Ibn Ezra, Abraham ben Meïr,--1092-
subject: 1167--Translations into English.
Page i
Twilight of a Golden Age
Page ii
JUDAIC STUDIES SERIES
Leon J. Weinberger
General Editor
Page iii
Twilight of a Golden Age
Selected Poems of Abraham Ibn Ezra
Leon J. Weinberger
Copyright © 1997
The University of Alabama Press
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 354870380
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
¥
The paper on which this book is printed meets the minimum requirements of
American National Standard for Information Science-Permanence of Paper
for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.481984.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ibn Ezra, Abraham ben Meïr, 1092-1167.
[Poems. English & Hebrew. Selections]
Twilight of a golden age : selected poems of Abraham Ibn Ezra / edited and
translated with introduction and notes by Leon J. Weinberger.
p. cm. (Judaic studies series)
Contains the Hebrew text of selected poems with English translation.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8173-0878-4 (alk. paper)
1. Ibn Ezra, Abraham ben Meïr, 1092-1167Translations into
English. I. Weinberger. Leon J. II. Title. III. Series: Judaic studies series
(Unnumbered)
PJ5050.I18A25 1997
892.4'12dc21 97-1624
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data available
Page v
For
Lynn and Gary
Ellen and David
Lisa and Tom
Page vii
Contents
Preface xi
A Note on Transliteration xiii
Abbreviations xiv
Introduction 1
Biography: Crisis and Decision 1
The Vagabond Life 11
Poetry in Transition: Realism and Reality 14
Ibn Ezra's Astrology 19
The Uses of Wisdom 22
The Soul's Odyssey 26
God Is All 29
Israel: Lover and Beloved 33
Courting Israel 36
Transcendence and Familiarity 40
Israel's Diary 42
The Playful Side 50
Folk Hero 55
Secular Poetry 65
1. The Patron 65
2. Misfortune 66
3. On His Torn Garment 68
4. The Flies 69
5. My Honor 71
6. The Denizens of Morah 72
7. Song of the Nations 74
8. For Joseph b. Amram 74
9. Tribute to Samuel Ibn jami 78
*
Page viii
10. In Honor of Barukh Ibn Jau 81
11. For R. Menahem 85
* of Rome and His Son Moses
12. To His Beloved 89
13. Elegy on the Death of His Son Isaac 92
14. Lament on the Destruction of Andalusian and North 96
African Jewry
15. A Sea Voyage 100
16. In a Lifetime 107
17. Selections From Hay* ben Mequis* 112
18. A Game of Chess 125
Sacred Poetry 129
God 129
19. Life's Paradox 129
20. God's Providence 130
21. God's Presence 132
22. I Have But One Request 135
23. God, My Desire 138
24. One Father 140
25. God's Identity 143
26. No One Shares His Power 145