Saturday 3 May 2014

My Saturday Night Rose

The self-authored piece below is a tribute to Israel’s two major days of springtime remembrance.

This week, Yom Hashoa (Holocaust Memorial Day) recalled those who died during the Holocaust. Tomorrow night and Monday, Yom Hazikaron will memorialise those who lost their lives defending the State of Israel. Celebrations for Yom Ha’atzmaut, Independence Day, begin on Monday evening.

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Saturday Night Rose

 

Night falls where bombs cannot.

So we sit as safe as houses,

An audience to songs without music

Sung to the uneasy beat of

Waters saddling a white-horsed sea.

Crimson.Rose

We are handed roses.

Long-stemmed crimson beauties,

They accept our fealty with

Gracious hauteur. 

 

Quivering proud on Holocaust

Day, mine guards the hushed

Breeze as the eternal two

Minutes stretch to honour each

Soul ever sacrificed by fire.

 

But an innocent dog barks;

A heartless motorist scuttles past.

At another time, they too, will

Be remembered.

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  • This note allows me to offer renewed thanks to the Voices Israel poetry group and also to members of the synagogue who hosted last week’s event in Nahariya. 

© Natalie Wood (03 May 2014)

2 comments:

B Reading said...

A lovely poem Natalie :)

Natalie Wood said...

Thank you!