I wrote the poems in this book (War Surrounds Us, Is a Rose Press, 2015). As we have seen, war has erupted again in Gaza-Israel and been going full-on since 07 October 2023. I don't imagine any of the readers of my book welcomed this war...either Hamas' initial attack or Israel's retaliatory response. I have been struggling to write about this—nearly ten years after the war reflected in War Surrounds Us. Yet, I have written a few poems.
However, I am not sure what the role of the poet is in times like this. I am living with a surreal divide within me and around me—tectonic plates pressing, bursting like an earthquake, within my head. I am Israeli, I oppose the government's response, but I also abhor the Hamas atrocities of 0ctober 7th. I don't know how we can arrive at peace, justice, and reconciliation—even though this is what I want for Palestinians and Israelis. I can't put into words what it is like for me...and I'm not sure that if I could, the world would accept my words.
Does a book like this make a difference? Would another book of poems help prevent the next war or help us reach conciliation? I don't believe that an obscure poet, even one who considers himself an activist-poet, has much influence. I certainly know I don't locally, regionally, or globally.
I am particularly interested if those who read War Surrounds Us found it helpful in anyway then or now? Do you feel it has influenced you? Would another book of poetry 10 years later be worth writing?
However, I am not sure what the role of the poet is in times like this. I am living with a surreal divide within me and around me—tectonic plates pressing, bursting like an earthquake, within my head. I am Israeli, I oppose the government's response, but I also abhor the Hamas atrocities of 0ctober 7th. I don't know how we can arrive at peace, justice, and reconciliation—even though this is what I want for Palestinians and Israelis. I can't put into words what it is like for me...and I'm not sure that if I could, the world would accept my words.
Does a book like this make a difference? Would another book of poems help prevent the next war or help us reach conciliation? I don't believe that an obscure poet, even one who considers himself an activist-poet, has much influence. I certainly know I don't locally, regionally, or globally.
I am particularly interested if those who read War Surrounds Us found it helpful in anyway then or now? Do you feel it has influenced you? Would another book of poetry 10 years later be worth writing?