Who is Yehuda Amichai?

Yehuda Amichai (1924-200) is thought by many to be the greatest Israeli poet the contested land he called his own has given us so far. ֓The poem that follows, one of the most moving in all of literature, shows why. For those who know biblical but not modern Hebrew, do not despair. With the help of a dictionary, you can read the poem I supply here. My translation is indebted to earlier efforts, but goes its own way.

A comparison of modern Hebrew poetry with ancient Hebrew poetry reveals similarities and differences. For an example of Amichai's craft, in Hebrew and in translation, go here.

Comments

[Kevin P. Edgecomb]

It's good to see another YA afficionado. Here are three more of his that I've posted, here, here, and here.

[Simon Holloway]

A beautiful poem, and an excellent translation. I cannot help but feel that there is a certain bivalency of meaning in the third line. In saying, "אבל אני יודע כי כבר שם", Amihai might be suggesting that he knows the following since he, himself, is now there too. That was my initial understanding when I first read it, made stronger by his sad assertion in the final line. What do you think?

[JohnFH]

I think you're right, Simon. If so, the janus anaphora as it were of the particle sham ties the two halves of the poem together.

If it could be shown that Amichai does this sort of thing elsewhere, it would strengthen the case.