Of all my close circle of friends
all faithful to me,
he alone clings to me:
my friend, the black-colored reed.

A dumb and silent friend,
but his heart is open;
My heart – his heart, my mind – his mind.
Together we share laughter and pain.

Towards evening I will tell him
old tales of our people,
and divulge the extent of
my soul’s yearnings for our land.

Silently my mouth will kiss his mouth,
And my friend will sing aloud,
performing for me Od Lo Avda
and And Your Sons Will Return To Their Land

All my hopes for the future
and my hidden wishes,
all that I love – I will express
through the soul-language of his lips.

When my soul turns sad
worries nest in my heart,
he will speak for me and expose
my sadness to the universe, in a melody.

Of all my close circle of friends
all faithful to me,
he alone clings to me:
my friend, the black-colored reed.