I have had the same thoughts rumbling round in my head all day, which seem to speak into this repost of a poem somehow. I hope you have all stayed safe today, notwithstanding all the issues that seem relentlessly assailing. The thoughts that, tonight, this poem picks up on for me are those of our perception of who we intrinsically are; our own individual being as represented by our mirror image - which can be self (as in soul/spirit) or, perhaps, as God sees us. Outside of THAT particular understanding, all else is, perhaps, just trying to identify ourselves by the material things by which we are surrounded, indicating our "role" in the scheme of things. I think how we respond to life issues in the world is shaped, first and foremost, by our perception of self... I am afraid this is just what "absence" does for me!! :))

SOME SAY


There are those who say
that life is a succession
of alternatives before death.

There are others who say
it is about conquering.

Some say there is little difference
between life and its absence;
and there are still others who say
that life has been given to be laid down
in the service of those
who have no life.

But I say: life is you.

And it is easy to explain this:
night always cloaks
what is in sight.

At home, lamps burn.

But even in the light
there is no line of vision
except the one which comes
from the mirror;
and there is no existence outside
of that mutual gaze.

There is no release in it,
but there is longing.
And not death
but life.

And I understand from both
the one who is warm and
the one who is cold
that night conceals,

and I long for the one who sees me
with just a touch,

and all is forgotten.

Except this.






This is a translation from the Hebrew that I did back in the summer with Israeli poet, Amir Or. It is an excerpt from his book-length love poem - called "Poem" (!!), Chapter X. (Thinks... I hope he won't mind me posting this again... Anyway, full credit and copyright to Amir Or and the complete poem is well-worth checking out! :))