Confirmation, a poem by Miriam del Banco (1932)

Contributor(s): Miriam del Banco and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Shared on: 2 June 2022 under the Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedication

Categories: Bnei (Bar/Bat) Mitsvah & Other Birthday Prayers

Tags: 19th century C.E., 57th century A.M., English poetry, English vernacular prayer, Prayers as poems

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Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	Confirmation
	“Standing with reluctant feet Where the brook and river meet.”^[1] From “Maidenhood,” a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
	An organ swelling out its solemn measure, Its tones a-tremble on the morning air; An altar wreathed with fragrant buds of spring-time; A group of children, motionless in prayer.
	An earnest look upon the childish faces, So fair and innocent and free from guile; The boyish ones already brave and noble — The girlish faces, tender with a smile.
	In each a timid look of awe and wonder — A wish to scan the chart of time to be; To seek, perchance, some fairy-land of pleasure Within the bounds of bright reality.
	O future! Mystic realm of light and shadow! What will they find within thy portal grand? Does joy lie dreaming in thy moonlit meadow? Does thappiness beside thy gate-way stand?
	What will young Israel in thee discover? What fate will mark its era on thy chart? The blight of apathy? —its mould and mildew? Or deeds dictated by a Jewish heart?
	These children — will they prove themselves as worthy The loving trust of parents and of friends? Will they sustain the dream that, in its beauty, he future with a tinge of glory blends?
	A group of angel faces hover o’er them, Enlisted by a mother’s joyful tear — A group of loving angels of protection, Responsive to a father’s hope and fear.
	The light of tapers falls in solemn splendor; A psalm is sung by some one — soft and low; And now a rabbi lifts his hands in blessing; Look at the picture, prithee, ere we go!

The poem “Confirmation” by Miriam del Banco (1858-1931) was included in her posthumously published anthology, Poetry and Prose (1932), p. 80-81. The poem was likely published during her lifetime, but we do not know where or when. If you know, please leave a comment, or contact us. –Aharon Varady

Source(s)

Notes[+]

Notes
1	From “Maidenhood,” a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike . 4.0 . International .

“Confirmation, a poem by Miriam del Banco (1932)” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.

Miriam del Banco

Miriam del Banco (27 June 1858 - 6 November 1931) was a writer, poet, translator, and educator. She was the daughter of Rabbi Max Del Banco (1825-1864), a reform rabbi with a congregation in Evansville, Indiana at the time of his death. Johanna (née Meyer), Miriam's mother, moved to St. Louis and there Miriam began her education in its public schools, displaying remarkable poetic talent. Later she was sent to her uncle at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where she attended the State Normal School. After graduating with honors, she rejoined her mother, who in the mean time had moved to Chicago. There, in 1885, Ms. Del Banco began teaching in the public schools, and from 1889 onward, as the assistant principal at the Von Humboldt School. Later on she served as the principal of the McClellan and Motley schools in Chicago. In 1921, at the age of 63, she earned a PhD from DePaul University. She was a frequent contributor to both the Jewish and general press, having written a large number of poems, both Jewish and secular, and often under the pseudonym, "the Pansy" (after her favorite flower).

Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Aharon Varady (M.A.J.Ed./JTSA Davidson) is a volunteer transcriber for the Open Siddur Project. If you find any mistakes in his transcriptions, please let him know. Shgiyot mi yavin; Ministarot naqeni שְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין; מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּנִי "Who can know all one's flaws? From hidden errors, correct me" (Psalms 19:13). If you'd like to directly support his work, please consider donating via his Patreon account. (Varady also translates prayers and contributes his own original work besides serving as the primary shammes of the Open Siddur Project and its website, opensiddur.org.)

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו "May the pleasantness of אדֹני our elo’ah be upon us; may our handiwork be established for us — our handiwork, may it be established." –Psalms 90:17