Israeli Poetry

Israeli poetry has a rich history that reflects the country’s culture and politics. Hebrew, the official language of Israel, has long been the medium of expression for Israeli poets, and their works have become an integral part of the country’s literary canon.

Israeli poetry dates back to when Zionist pioneers began to write in Hebrew as a way to create a new cultural identity for the Jewish people. These early poets, such as Haim Nahman Bialik and Rachel Bluwstein, wrote about the Jewish experience, the beauty of the land, and the struggles of building a new society.

In the 1940s and 50s, Israeli poetry entered a new era known as the “Generation of the State.” Poets like Yehuda Amichai, Nathan Zach, and Leah Goldberg wrote about the complex emotions and realities of living in a newly formed nation while also exploring universal themes of love, change, and nature.

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A Child is Something Else Again

by Yehuda Amichai

‘A Child is Something Else Again’ by Yehuda Amichai is a poem about parenthood and childhood. A child represents a great deal, the speaker says, and provides a parent with the will to live.

As an Israeli poet, Yehuda Amichai's work often reflects the complexities and nuances of Jewish identity, exploring themes of faith, tradition, and family in a unique cultural context. This poem is not regarded as the most famous Israeli poem of all time, but it is a good example of writing created by an Israeli poet.

A child is something else again. Wakes up

in the afternoon and in an instant he's full of words,

in an instant he's humming, in an instant warm,

instant light, instant darkness.

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A Child is Something Else Again

by Yehuda Amichai

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