so i am lying in bed at 10 a.m. revelling in the possibility of relaxation, and blabbing with Haim on the phone, and the sirens go off. Ezi hears them first because he’s at the window watering the flowers, and alerts me. Within a minute we’re down in the shelter, recalling the Yemenites promise that they were going to stop when we had a ceasefire with Hamas.
So no relaxing.
So don’t trust me – especially when I’m optimistic.
wrong again – 18.1.25 Read Post »
I decided it was time to clear the table. Even though the 2 glass tables we had worked for us for at least 20 years, they became too bulky for me too handle and not flexible. So we went out and bought a very ordinary table that can expand, and today the Ukranian immigrants came to take them away.
The new table arrives on Sunday and I am imagining it will be new beginning – a clean slate – that will allow me to find to imagine a way out of the terrible dilemma I see as our future.
the table – 18.1.25 Read Post »
We’re in for some big emotional experiences in the next few weeks – at best. If nothing goes wrong – and there are all kinds of things that can go wrong with this deal – we’re in for a very wild ride. Each person returned to us – living or dead – will bring us great joy and great suffering. So we have 2 days to relax and pay attention to daily life.
After that, we’re going to need all the strength we have.
it ain’t over yet.
and I’m still praying for the lives of all of the hostages.
https://www.loc.gov/item/95770505/
There was another time I read there, together with Dan Pagis, Yehuda Amichai, and Natan Yonatan.
https://www.loc.gov/item/85754082/
a Surprising Reading from my Past – 1.16.25 Read Post »
Mishmar HaEmek is where the defense of Israel began. The stories that our guide, Boaz Hadashi, told, reminded me of why I came to Israel in the first place. His discussion of history and the beginnings of the defence movement made me realize the position of Israel today, the importance of co-existence, the humanity of socialism, and the possibility of the future. I would love to be able to see what he does with Korea and Japan, where he’s leading a trip this summer. Look for him here
Mishmar HaEmek 2 – 15.1.25 Read Post »
Some of my favorite poets in Israel are Druze, but I hadn’t considered their situation here in these troubled times.
https://www.haaretz.com/life/2025-01-15/ty-article/.premium/how-to-write-a-poem-in-the-midst-of-chaos-notes-on-a-poem-by-a-druze-israeli-writer/00000194-6472-d2ad-a19d-767fc13a0000?utm_source=mailchimp&utm_medium=email&utm_content=author-alert&utm_campaign=Vivian+Eden&utm_term=20250115-13:20.
I hope she’ll be around more to tell us about poetry in Israel. We really learn so much more from poetry about the real atmosphere of a country.
Poetry and the Druze – 15.1.25 Read Post »
