In the inner temples
The crowds gathered
Clustered
Together
For they felt the earth quake.
What fervent lamentations
Prayers
On fire
Hearts of ash
Amongst the ashes
Repentant
Were these not the hearts
That but three hours ago
Round the golden calves
Danced and
Caroused tonight?
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Do you know Arnold Schoenberg's opera MOSES UND ARON? . He devotes a long section to the Golden Calf with the most amazing (twelve-tone) music. He doesn't dramatize the earth opening up and swallowing the sinners, but when Moses comes down from the mountain and sees their idolatry, his anger is earth shaking. Your poem, of course, is not limited to the biblical account. You are commenting on the Golden Calves which are ever-present in our lives as we sacrifice integrity for profit, fidelity to pleasure, honesty for advancement, etc. So many Golden Calves! So many bartered souls!