Departure

Departure

Night, be long and linger
before my friends' departure:
gently spread your black
wing across the glow
of dawn--and turn, tears,
to rain to keep them from going.
Heart's grief, cloud
the sky with dark so they'll
not see the light of morning.
May my sighs then stir
the sun's flames to strike them--
until at last they fathom
that they can leave my tents
only once I've blessed them.

Yehuda Halevi