Q&A with Zackary Sholem Berger discussion

I am posting in English, so that we can include others in the discussion. I just got your poetry book, and it strikes me that the English title takes some license with the Yiddish title, and I wonder whether you intended to have the Yiddish title foreshadow the placement of the English vs. Yiddish poems? I have a sense that the Yiddish title has more of a meaning (at least to me) "At least separate your sacred speech from the profane" and if we consider Yiddish sacred and English profane (in the sense of common) then it is sort of "Not in the Same Breath" if you separate the two. I am a firm believer that work should stand on its own, and that attempts to determine the author's "intent" are misguided, but I was just wondering if this once having you comment might get an interesting discussion going. Thank you for writing this, by the way.

Thanks for your question and sorry for the delayed reply! The Yiddish title (Zog Khotsh Lehavdl) can indeed be literally translated "At least separate your sacred speech from the profane," but that translation would be misleading. "Lehavdl" is a pretty common expression, and in translating that phrase into English I sought the nearest equivalent. Thanks again and I hope you're enjoying the book!