Halpern was born in Eastern Galicia, Austria-Hungary in 1886. he lived in Vienna and then moved to the U.S. in 1908. Besides being part of Di Yunge he also wrote for a leftist newspaper Di Frayhayt . His writing was often considered cynical  and negative. He had an edge of violence and negativity that wasn’t seen before in Yiddish Poetry. He died in 1932 at the age of 46.

Here is an excerpt form Halpern’s poem “Bird”

And that’s the way it stayed although

That was some seven years ago.

I still call out “Hi there!’ through the door.

He screams back “ ‘Lo there” as before.

“Let me out” I plead, “don’t be a louse”

And he answers, “Let me in the house.”

But I know what he wants. So I bide

My time and let him wait outside.

He inquires about the bit of cheese

Under my ass, behind my knees;

Scared, I reached down, but, yes, it’s still here.

I haven’t the slightest thing to fear.

(Howe, 106)