MOSHE BEN SHAUL

FROM “THE STORY OF JANUARY 1986”

I thought of my being and of your being –

my world abides within your world

composed of questions and answers, bread, sleep, apples

and if I kiss you or don’t kiss you.

If we conserve of ourselves we’ll become incurable

I love your shoulders and the breadth of your mouth

I thought of your existence of the children home time

the bitter chocolate the nervousness the experienced cough

I thought of your encompassing soul your compassion

all compassion comes together to ease

Don’t ask

I don’t ask

*

To render laughter, to peruse a book

from the desired distance of agreement. You are Marco Polo, Magellan,

In your crown are grapes and dryness

the beautiful lands are the shadows

of your thoughts

Simple, small continents filling with moisture

FRAGMENTS

Tonight the panes shuddered

and I didn’t know if it was the window

or slivers of your dream scattering.

Translated by Karen Alkalay-Gut