Hanukkah Poems: English Poetry on Jewish Festival of Lights

And Thou Shalt Love ~ Gustav Holst

Famous Hanukkah Poem

Hanukkah is one of the major festivals of Jews, wherein they commemorate the victory of Maccabees, led by Judah, over the Hellenistic Syrians. Hanukkah is the festival of lights, which spreads an atmosphere of festivity and joy all around. People prepare several delicacies on this occasion and invite friends and relatives for the feast. Music also forms a vital part of the celebration. Several poems have been written on the Hanukkah, which brings out the importance and essence of the festival in the true spirit. However, these poems differ in their subject matter. Some of them convey the traditional legends associated with the festival, whereas others bring out its meaning. Some poems can convey general message of brotherhood also. Hanukkah poems are usually recited among the gatherings. You can also write them on cards that you want to present your loved ones with, to greet them on the festival. In this article, we bring you one such famous poem that you can recite this year, during the celebration of Chanukah. The poem is titled ‘And Thou Shalt Love’ and has been written by Gustav Holst. Read on to feel the magic of its great lyrics.

And Thou Shalt Love

All I ever looked for was happiness:
Not for myself only; also for mine.
Dumbstruck, I learned the futility of being good.
Tell me, how does one get pleasure out of life?

How, when so much engenders pain?
Only maudlin moments of forgetfulness
Unloose the tears that turn the blood to wine.

Simple Simon went into a wood,
Hoping to return his damaged wife.
A drunken druid drove him forth again,
Laughing like a god at his distress:
Take her, fool! For you she’ll do just fine!

Longing comes easy in darkness. I should
Open my eyes, turn on the light. A knife,
Viciously twisting, argues for pain.
Eagerly I press on, in fear of nothingness.

ii

There! Do you see the light
High on that mountain?
Even here there is

Light! Do you see it?
Only darkness. You see
Reflections of dreams. Here
Darkness covers even

Tomorrow. Who can
Hope any longer for light?
Yet there it is! We must

Go towards it, or else–
Or be of those who love
Darkness, luminous darkness –

iii

Wealth isolates, hardship unites.
In darkness people hold hands.
Those only who cry out are comforted.
However we live, death is the same.

And so we come to know Thy name:
Lounging easy in our rights,
Loving only as need demands,
The grace most sought uncelebrated,
Happiness inextricable from shame.
Yet we, too, have known lidless nights.

Hope is not for one who understands.
Even blameless, we are rejected.
All are lost who win the game.
Reason renders only lights.
Those who fear know Thy commands.