I AM WILLING - Holly Near

I am open and I am willing
To be hopeless would seem so strange
It dishonors those who go before us
So lift me up to the light of change

There is hurting in my family
There is sorrow in my town
There is panic in the nation
There is wailing the whole world round

I am open ...

May the children see more clearly
May the elders be more wise
May the winds of change caress us
Even though it burns our eyes

I am open ...

Give me a mighty oak to hold my confusion
Give me a desert to hold my fears
Give me a sunset to hold my wonder
Give me an ocean to hold my tears

I am open ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AkGk5maD8Q

Yiddish version sung by Polina Shepherd and Lorin Slkamberg
Kh'hob dem Kheyshek

also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXUsnJQYbQE

HOB DEM KHEYSHEK by Yuri Vedenyapin
[transliteration of Yiddish words]

Kh’hob dem gloybn,
kh’hob dem kheyshek,
Zayn fartsveyflt tor men nit,
Mir gedenken doyres kemfers
Far banayung un far likht.

Mayn mishpokhe filt a veytik,
Un mayn shtot iz ful mit tsar,
S’iz dos gantse land dershrokn,
S’filt di velt a shvern gzar.
Kh’hob dem gloybn...

Zoln kinder zen alts klorer,
Un di firers kliger zayn;
Blozt shoyn, vintn fun banayung,
Zol es baysn, s’iz keday.
Kh’hob dem gloybn...

Helf mir, boym,
un halt mayn dayge,
Helf mir, midber, halt mayn shrek,
Mikh farkishef, royte shkie,
Nem, bloyer yam, mayn trer avek.
Kh’hob dem gloybn...

Translation of the Yiddish song that was based on Holly Near's "I am Open"

I have faith, I have yearning,
To be despondent is not allowed,
We remember generations of activists
For renewal and for light.

My family feels pain,
And my town is full of sorrow.
The whole country is frightened,
The world feels a hard decree.

May children see more clearly
And the leaders be wiser;
Blow, winds of renewal,
Let it bite, it’s worth it.

Help me, tree, and stop my worry,
Help me, desert, stop my fear,
Enchant me, red sunset,
Ocean, take my tears away.

(source, concert programme Boston Workers' Circle, Singing for a Better World, May 2021