Poet and author Hayyim Nahman Bialik (1873-1934) was called the Jewish people's "national poet," a title that has remained to this day. A central and influential figure in the modern Hebrew literary world, Bialik wrote novels, humorous songs, poetry and sketches; some of his work is in Yiddish, but his most important writings are in Hebrew. His work has been widely translated (English translations of his poems were published in 1924, 1926, and 1948); Bialik translated into Hebrew Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Cervantes's Don Quixote, Schiller's Wilhelm Tell and Heine's poems. His poems are still read in Israel today, and several have been put to music by some of the country's most gifted composers. One, Two One, two, three, four — find yourself a wife — choose her! Do not dally, don't be late or someone else'll get there first. I myself found me some honey but it never came to my lips. Two she had her, this one widow: one brunette and one had fair hair. Not girls-pearls, fillies fine and gorgeous, the joy of whoever saw their face and I loved both of them. But who'll foretell and who'll say which of them I loved more. The time went, I don't know how I dillydallied, dillydallied. Suddenly a demon came and scarfed them a demon with a ponytail and handlebar mustache. And I remained, silly bugger, an old bachelor ever after. And from this to all the young men a moral to the wise and let who learns learn. One, two, three, four — find yourself a wife — choose her! Do not dally, don't be late or someone else'll get there first. From: Songs from Bialik : Selected Poems of Hayim Nahman Bialik. Hayyim Nahman Bialik. Edited and translated from Hebrew by: Atar Hadari. Dan Miron (Introduction) (Syracuse University Press, December 1999). MARRIAGE Table of Contents