Sloan-Kettering: Poems

by Abba Kovner

A final collection of poetic works by the famed Jewish resistance fighter is comprised of pieces written in the last weeks of his life while he succumbed to cancer and are the poet's testament to a life lived with unflinching honesty and courage.

Genres: Poetry

160 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 27, 2002

Reviews

[M. Sarki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Second time through just as disappointing as the first. Though I respect Kovner's efforts at recording his last days, the poems are lyrically found lacking and void of lasting feeling, other than the hard fact of his sad dying and how he said goodbye.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book of poetry slowly - over the course of roughly two months. I found parts of it eloquent and poignant and other parts fell a bit flat for me. I think I liked it best when his faith was on display:

Is there a prayer for one who prays like him
seething. He has offered no sacrifice, built
no altar. He has not grasped the coattail
of a flying angel,
nor placed his trust in the mercy of heaven

This book also has a brutal honesty about cancer treatment and facing one’s mortality:

When they told him they were going to cut away his vocal cords
entirely it was merely
a confirmation of what he already knew
and it sat deep inside him like a dark lump

I would not share this book with someone facing cancer treatment, but it might be good reading material for someone with a loved one in treatment. It’s hard to convert the way cancer not only infiltrates your body but your mind and soul. It’s like sharing your body with a guest you never invited. Kovner captures that feeling better than I can and I’m grateful he left behind these poems from his final fight.

[Francesbean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and poignant.