blog, poetry

i was just reminded that I was the translator of Ehud Manor’s poem “I Have No Other Homeland” that Nancy Pelosi quoted the other day.  It’s here.

When Ehud died I was at a total loss.  His warmth, his openness, his lack of ego, always shocked and warmed my heart.  Me?  He’s coming My way?  He’s embracing Me?  Such a great man and he has time and warmth for Me???

This was a man who truly deserved all the love he generated in his music and words.  Here’s the poem: 

I Have No Other Home Land
Ehud Manor
Translated by: Karen Alkalay-Gut
I have no other homeland
though my earth is aflame
a word in Hebrew alone
pierces through my veins to my soul –
with aching body, with hungry heart,
Here is my home.
I will not stay silent
that the face of my land has changed
I won’t give up but keep reminding her —
singing in her ears
until she opens her eyes
I have no other country
though my land is burning
only a word in Hebrew
pierces my veins my soul –
with aching body, hungering in my heart,
this is my home.
I will not remain quiet
though the face of my land has changed
I won’t stop reminding her —
singing in her ears
until she opens her eyes
I have no other country
until she renews her days of old
until she opens her eyes
I have no other country
though my land is burning
only a word in Hebrew
pierces my veins my soul –
with aching body, hungering in my heart,
this is my home.

i’ve written many times about him in my old diary, for example here.  and i still hope when i turn a corner, I will run into him again.

january 15, 2021 – I have no other country – Ehud manor and me Read Post »

blog, poetry

I haven’t been telling you about readings.  Some of them are big readings but I have a small part, some of them are in institutions that don’t open their events to public, but there are a few coming up where it would be great to see you there.  On the 19th of January I’m sitting in on a translation class using my poems – Arabic and Hebrew.  I doubt whether I’ll be able to contribute much to it.  i’ll let you know details if you’re interested.  Lately i haven’t heard much from you guys.  Also on February 1, I’ll be talking about the poetry boom on zoom.  But I don’t have the exact time or link yet.  

The big ones are on January 14 and then on the 16.  To find out more about the 16th at the University of Michigan, click here.

 

january 14, 2021 – Events in the near future Read Post »

blog, poetry
(maybe I put this up yesterday but it seems not to have taken, according to my friend David)

what is the most important thing the ophthalmologist had to tell us? that he just got a green passport! “What can you do with it?” I asked. He thought for a moment. “Nothing. ” then he added. “Yet.” Still, he was thrilled. It gave me great hope.

But soon after, we were talking with a guy who was trying to get a vaccine – and he got the appointment. “Since after all, we’re guinea pigs for Pfizer and will all get the vaccine eventually. ” And then he said, “But what happens if all the Israelis get it and it turns out to be poison? It will be the end of the Jewish people.”

tell me we’re all not crazy

 

january 12, 2021 – green passports Read Post »

blog, poetry

Some people say we’re a light unto nations because we’re showing how to vaccinate an entire country.  Others say we’re the guinea pigs of the world.  Still others say, how come we’re not getting these vaccines to Gaza and the West Bank.  First off, it doesn’t work until at least fifty percent or so of the people are immune.  So once we get the immunity, we can move on to the next community.  I’m pretty sure the game we’re playing of “Ask me!” “No, you have to invite me!” will be over as soon as it becomes feasible.  In the meantime, I think the rule for airplanes still holds – that you put your oxygen mask before you put it on someone else.

january 13, 2021 – who gets the vaccine Read Post »

blog, poetry

what is the most important thing the ophthalmologist had to tell us? that he just got a green passport! “What can you do with it?” I asked. He thought for a moment. “Nothing. ” then he added. “Yet.” Still, he was thrilled. It gave me great hope.

But soon after, we were talking with a guy who was trying to get a vaccine – and he got the appointment. “Since after all, we’re guinea pigs for Pfizer and will all get the vaccine eventually. ” And then he said, “But what happens if all the Israelis get it and it turns out to be poison? It will be the end of the Jewish people.”

tell me we’re all not crazy

january 12, 2021 – green passport and anxiety Read Post »

blog, poetry

it was impossible for me to answer the phone to anyone over 10 years old today.  I’m so contentious there’s almost no one I’m not critical of, almost no one I don’t want to pick an argument with.  I don’t know why in particular I was not happy.  Everything was going my way – I spoke to the government offices about the IAWE, got cheerful but wrong answers, and transfered money to them easily, got all the information from the bank to send to the accountant for them, etc etc.  i even played games on zoom with my granddaughter – who – like my dear late mother – cheated with great pleasure and good humor.  I wrote a poem in Yiddish yesterday for my grandson and he recorded it today. 

And most important, I avoided the media – didn’t look at Nancy Pelosi, at hospital capacity, at impeachment, at PM trials.  

So why was it so dangerous to talk to me?  It was.  With the exception of Ezi, I tried to keep even people I loved far away.  It was a general meltdown.  And it was only alleviated by a little interview with Ahmed Tibi on TV.  When I see him I think anything is possible.

it seems it has turned out that I overestimated my situation – i’m not just crazy – i’m sick.

january 11, 2021 – meltdown Read Post »

israeli politics

a poem in Yiddish

my grandson likes to quote poems – a while ago he picked up a Russian nursery rhyme from me and I recorded it.  he can still quote it at the drop of a hat, and last week he did an English poem – with great humor and emotion.  Today he asked me to give him a Yiddish one – and i know he needs something short and funny.  So i wrote one.  

דער קאטער שלאפט זיך אפן דאך

ער גייט ארויס אין הגאס ביי נאכט

ער טומעלט זיך ארום א סאך

און שלאפט גאנצענע טעג אך דאך

too late to give it to him, but i’ll bet he learns it fast.

in English it would be

The cat sits on the roof

he goes wandering at night

he raises such a ruckus 

so he sleeps all day on the roof

 

 

 

january 10, 2021 – Read Post »

israeli politics

Ronny Sommek

 

Zoom

 

I count the bears on R’s pajamas   

From twelfth grade listening

To me reading a poem

About ballet shoes.

The teacher T’  in the next square

Missed a hair above the left eye

When she tried to be exact

Plucking her eyebrows

The beard of Teacher Y’

Is more manicured

Than the Gardens of Luxembourg

And the cat on the lap of  H

Deserves an embrace.

D’ judging by his shirt is a member

Of the Nature Conservation Group,

And the flowers in the vase behind him

I identify as permitted to pick.

K’s turtle-neck sweater is black and, she

Looks like the raven in the old Scottish ballad,

And I hope that T doesn’t fix that eagle nose

That really complements her,

And while we’re on the subject of the nose:

The fact that P’ is the ideal

Of painters of Aphrodite

That N’ is freckled

And H’ is too close to the camera.

 

She’s the last to turn off the video

And my eyes suddenly munch on my own

the screen that fills

with squares of chocolate.

 

translated by Karen Alkalay-Gut –

all rights reserved

January 10, 2021 – poem by Ronny sommek Read Post »