Customer Reviews

Yehuda Amichai: A Life of Poetry, 1948-1994

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Amichai is I believe the most read of all modern Hebrew poets. His writing works on many different levels, and often has a simple surface story meaning which is eminently understandable. But beneath there are layers of complexity and irony, a deep awareness of Hebrew poetry, and traditional religious sources. Amichai's themes are the great themes of literature, themes of love and war, of comradeship and loss. His poetry too centers on his city, Jerusalem, and is a reading of its landscapes and mindscapes.
In this volume there are scholarly essays that enhance our understanding of this poet.
But Amichai who learned much from American modern poets use of the colloquial is excellently translated into English here.
Who meets this volume meets a poetry of exceptional meaning and beauty.

"Pain is a grandfather:/Sired two generations/of look-alike pains."

Not a single poem in this collection is superfluous. Each leads to the next and weaves a tapestry of images. Poetry in general, when it is really good, has the ability to touch you on a level you did not think possible. "If we don't remain together, we won't remain at all. Let alone life." It expresses thoughts and feelings in words you could not find. "Eternity is a perfect/Form of mutual loneliness." It introduces new angles to old ideas or contributes poignancy to unconsidered thoughts. Sometimes, the experience of the poet is foreign to the reader, but the reader can still feel on some level the feeling the poet felt. Amichai is among my favorite poets for his ability to create such a rich and sudden injection of reaction in me.

I find it unfortunate that I don't read Hebrew and have to read Amichai's poetry in the "lie of translation". I suspect a great deal is lost, but I still cannot fault what access I do have to these poems.

I cannot do much justice to Amichai with descriptive words. You will have to read it yourself. I know poetry is not necessarily everyone's favorite thing, but I think it is an acquired taste.

"And we didn't know then that remnants of happiness/ Are like remnants of every collapse/ That you have to clear away to start anew."

I purchased this book after falling in love with another translation of "A Man in His Life" as printed in Christian Century magazine. I don't like the translation in this book as much, which leads me to consider the art of translation in general. I would like to find more of Amichai's work by the other translator.

This is otherwise a very fine collection of poetry that moves through time and ideas in a thoughtful and detailed manner worthy of a mature poet. More people should read it.

I'm not in a position to evaluate this translation versus others against the original. I'm also a (very amateur) fan of Nikos Kazantzakis, whom I also must enjoy in translation, and I have only the utmost gratitude and respect for translators of literature.

As for this book: it is a fine work and I heartily recommend it. If you have any "leads" regarding additional translations please share them in the comments. Thank you.