Rubies

Like a merchant ship, strong and wide,
gold and oranges deep inside
more than rubies, more than pearls,
the one I love.

With purple silk and tapestry,
she weaves a blanket to cover me
more than rubies, more than pearls,
the one I love.

The world is woven through us
and I cannot forget
how her fingers hold the thread.

She buys a field, she plants a vine
come the autumn she makes her wine
more than rubies, more than pearls,
the one I love.

Let it rain, let it storm
she keeps her babies safe and warm
more than rubies, more than pearls,
the one I love.

Grace can lie and beauty’s vain
oh but she calls me by my name
more than rubies, more than pearls,
the one I love.

The world is woven through us
I swear I won’t forget
how her fingers hold the thread.

An ode to Eshet Chayil, “A Woman of Valor” (Proverbs 31), who turns out to be quite tough – traditionally sung by husbands to wives on Friday night before Shabbat dinner. I retranslated the Hebrew, and married it to an American folk song.