At the Hour of Closing

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At The Hour of Closing

by Moshe Ibn Ezra, translated by Peter Cole

Lord of wondrous workings,
grant us understanding—
now at the hour of closing.

A chosen few are called,
their eyes toward you lifting—
they stand exalted in their trembling
now, at the hour of closing.

They pour forth their souls;
erase, then, their straying—
and grant them, Lord, your absolution
now at the hour of closing.

Be a shelter for them
through all their suffering;
consign them only to rejoicing
now, at the hour of closing.

Show them your compassion,
in your justice turning
on all who brought oppression to them—
now at the hour of closing.

Recall their fathers’ merit
and count it as merit for them;
renew their days as once they were,
now, at the hour of closing.

Call for the year of grace—
the remnant flock’s returning
to Oholìbah and Oholàh—
now at the hour of closing.At The Hour Of Closing JWP_watermark

From THE DREAM OF THE POEM: Hebrew Poetry from Muslim and Christian Spain, 950-1492, Translated, Edited, and Introduced by Peter Cole . Copyright © 2007 by Princeton University Press. Reprinted by permission. Any program that appears with the performance has to reprint the poem exactly as it appears within the Work, including syntax, indentation, and capitalization.