One more collection of translated poetry. The book includes the poems in their original Hebrew alongside English translations by Robert Friend. As Preil is fluent in English, it would have been lovely if he had translated them himself, but regardless of who translated, the poems are stunning! It is no wonder that Israel regards him as one of the leading Hebrew poets.

Those interested in modern poetry will enjoy it-- also anyone interested in Jewish poetry.

You can open this book to a random page, and the poem is amazing. Always. Preil is just that talented. Some snippets:

Leah's gone. And in the cafe
I try to launch words
over the brown cup
as if Leah were still here.

~ Excerpt from "Leah's Absence"


My pen wandering
over this paper desert
cannot, this time,
capture on its point
the pain flowing between endless shores,
the image glowing hot and dark.

~ Excerpt from "Van Gogh: Williamsburg"


This is the nakedest of farewells
made in the midst of small talk
without a wine-drop in the glass.

~Excerpt from "Sunset"


A poem, however, is not to be coerced
(if we may use slightly didactic language)
to come like tomorrows, like yesterdays,
arguing and bargaining
with a clock running down, a thermometer running wild.

~ Excerpt from "Rain Poem"


As always, I think that the poet's own words do a better job of explaining the merits of the collection. I have had it for two or three years now, and I never get bored of it.

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Created Dec 22, 2015 at 3:49pm • Submit your own review...