Night, a prayer-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: Bedtime Shema

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)
	Night
	The weary Day has leaned her head in slumber On Evening’s breast; Her songs and sighs and voices without number Are hushed to rest, While somber Midnight veils, with tender grace, Her sleeping face.
	Now, from some mystic realm, unknown to mortals, Where silence deep Reigns evermore, through softly-gliding portals, Comes blessed Sleep, And with her lotus-blooms and poppy leaves A garland weaves.
	A thousand hands lie motionless in slumber; A thousand eyes, Kissed by Repose, gaze through her gates of wonder On paradise;— Poor weary eyes! so often wet with tears, And dim with fears!
	Poor hearts! so many with a load of sorrow, A hidden care! O may they gather strength to meet the morrow, And nobly bear The ceaseless struggle and the silent strife That men call “life”;
	And may the joy that sometimes throws a glimmer Across their way— Pale as the silvery shreds of moonlight shimmer At dawn of day— O may it through their dreams like music steal, And bless, and heal!
	And while these countless stars in solemn splendor Their vigil keep, O Father, let Thy hand, so kind and tender, Protect their sleep! The morn will bear its song of praise to Thee From them, and me.

The prayer-poem “Night” by Miriam del Banco (1858-1931) was included in her posthumously published anthology, Poetry and Prose (1932), p. 90-91. 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)

. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike . 4.0 . International .

“Night, a prayer-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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Night (Miriam del Banco 1932) – cropped

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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