Targum Or Metrical Translations From Thirty Languages And Dialects

A sweeping anthology gathers verses drawn from thirty different tongues, reshaped into English metre with meticulous attention to the music of each original line. The translator acknowledges the difficulty of preserving both rhyme and the distinctive spirit that defines a nation’s poetry, from the delicate whisper of Persian lyricism to the bold, martial cadence of Danish songs. Readers are offered a window into the cultural temperament of each people, while the selections are chosen with an eye toward moral propriety, leaving out passages that might clash with contemporary sensibilities.

The volume presents a series of short, often devotional pieces—prayers, odes, meditations on death and divinity—rendered from Hebrew, Arabic, and other languages into accessible verse. By pairing the ancient sentiment with the rhythm of English poetry, the collection invites listeners to experience the timeless emotions that have moved peoples across centuries, all without sacrificing the lyrical charm of the source material.