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The Jewish month of Elul began last week, a month of repentance before the High Holidays. This seems a fitting time to read an excerpt of the 11th century Jewish-Spanish poet Solomon Ibn Gavirol\\u2019s magnificent poem, \\u201cA Crown for the King,\\u201d translated by David R. Slavitt. The theme of this poem is human frailty and proclivity to sin, and it focuses on humanity\\u2019s place in the world, the operation of free will, and repentance.

Here is an excerpt:

You live, but not in time, for you are time itself.
You live, but not by breathing in and breathing out, for you are breath itself.
You live, but not with a soul, for you are the source of souls.
You live, but not with the life of man that is like vanity and ends
\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0in the ravening of worms and moths.
You live, and he who finds you out as you gather him into
\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0your eternal bliss \\u201cwill eat and live forever.\\u201d

Music:
Sezufat Semes/Lesoni Bonanta \\u2013 Shlomo ibn Gabirol \\u201cAvicebr\\xf3n\\u201d

Text:
Psalm 27
\\u201cSolomon Ibn Gabirol, A Crown for the King.\\u201d Translated by David R. Slavitt. Oxford University Press, 1998.