IX
I will go into the ghetto: the sunlight
for only an hour or two at noon 
on the pavement here is enough for me; 
the smell of the fields in the street
for only a day or two in spring 
is enough for me. 
This peace is enough for me; 
let the heathen rage.

They will take away 
our cakes and delicacies, 
the cheerful greetings, the hours of pleasant speech, the smiles, 
and give us back 
the sight of our eyes and our silent thoughts; 
they will take away our groans and sighs 
and give us—
merely breath. 
Breathe deeply: 
how good and sweet the air is.

X
To wake at midnight, 
to wake at dawn, 
to say, This is too sweet for me 
because of you…
if I fast 
because of you who are hungry, 
if I am silent because of you who dare not speak…

I stutter. How shall I speak to Pharaoh?
I was a dresser of sycamore trees; 
how shall I speak to the king and his priest? 
I am the least of my house 
and my house the least in Israel; 
am I also among the prophets?