My foundations

These posts keep you all pretty up-to-date on my current condition. So I thought I’ll put a few pics of the people who shaped me so that  I am prepared (in particular) for this long ordeal  (which is far from ending – the medical team here call transplant "a marathon"). Of course, in different important ways, all also play a central role in helping me go through it all. Like most people, these foundations were built in two phases. As a youth, I was mainly formed (mainly) by my parents, Shoshana and Pinchas (who passed away), and my two brothers Meir and Oded. As an adult, I was (trans)formed (mainly) by Edna, my partner in everything in the past 40 years, and our kids Eyal, Einat and Yuval. 

Now back to poetry.

• The first poem is by Rachel, who we already met (Bluwstein is her last name – as I mentioned, she is so famous she is called only by her first name). The song is called So often in summer  (לא פעם בקיץ). Rachel’s Hebrew lyrics are here https://shironet.mako.co.il/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=166&wrkid=1837 and my favorite performance of it is here  https://youtu.be/sE8FYt823jk

So often in summer - Rachel

So often in summer, in warm sunset air,

Slowly as light was receding, 

To you I was walking, then long standing there

was listening to your voice singing 

"So small and so sparse is my room,

And to live here alone I am doomed.

So small and so sparse is my room, 

And to live here alone I am doomed."

And lives deep inside me, that memory that glows

Where silence and tenderness joined

The sweetness of sorrow, your singing would know

The soul how to sooth and anoint

"So small and so sparse is my room,

And to live here alone I am doomed.

So small and so sparse is my room, 

And to live here alone I am doomed."

I still do imagine, in warm sunset air

As to twilight blues I attune

That just like in old times, my ears pick up now

The very same innocent tune

"So small and so sparse is my room,

And to live here alone I am doomed.

So small and so sparse is my room, 

And to live here alone I am doomed."

• We have met the second poet as well – Leah Goldberg. The song is called Can it be?  (האמנם). The Hebrew lyrics are here https://shironet.mako.co.il/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=572&wrkid=23140 and my favorite performance of it is here  https://youtu.be/MqBu-lEPKWg 

Can it be? - Leah Goldberg 

Can it be? Can it be 

That we’ll see days come soon 

Full of grace and forgiveness 

And you’ll walk in the field 

Like a wanderer, innocent, free

And your feet, and your feet 

Which are bare will caress

The smooth leaves of the clovers

Or be stung by the wheat 

And this pain will be ever so sweet 

Or the rain will catch up,

Congregation of drops which are thumping 

On, your shoulders, your chest and your neck

Will refresh all around 

And while walking the wet field the peace 

Will expand, grow within you

Like light, at the rim of a cloud 

And you’ll breath, and you’ll breath 

In the fragrance of furrow

So fresh and so calming 

You'll see sun light reflect

In the puddle, a mirror of ore

And so plain, and so plain

Are all things and alive

And it's okay to touch them

And it's okay to love,

And it's okay to love even more

You will walk in the field by yourself

Not being scorched by the blazes of the roads

Which fabric's still shivering from terror and blood

And with purity of heart you'll again

Be so modest, accepting

As a bend blade of grass, as a man formed of mud

You will walk in the field by yourself...