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.
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:
A lovely poem Natalie :)
Thank you!
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