Yiddish

[PrinceMyshkin]

Shvach iz di shprach
uhn knappe ge-endikt.
Tsurissen fun moil iz di tsung.
Verbs fun zachverter,
vi kinder fun ihrer elteren,
zenen opgezundert.
Es bleibt nit kein gantsen zatz.
Nor an otem basetzt zich
--di klentste preposityeh:
"fuhn," oder "mit," oder "tsu".



Yiddish


The language is weak,
and almost done in.
The tongue has been ripped from the mouth.
Verbs from nouns,
like children from their parents,
have been cleaved.
Not one whole sentence remains.
Only a breath carries on
--the smallest preposition:
"from," or "with," or "to."

[Nightshade]

Have you read Outwitting History: How a Young Man Rescued a Million Books and Saved a Vanishing Civilisation by Aaron Lansky?

[PrinceMyshkin]

Have you read Outwitting History: How a Young Man Rescued a Million Books and Saved a Vanishing Civilisation by Aaron Lansky?

I haven't read it and unless it's available at my local library, I'm not likely to, but thanks very much for bringing it to my attention.