הַנַּיָּיד

הנייד ,הַנַּיָּיד שֶׁלִּי
,נַיָיח בַּבַּיִת
,חֲסַר שִׁימּוּשׁ
.כְּבָר דֵּי הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד זְמַן

,הַסּוֹלְלָה לֹא נִגְמְרָה בּוֹ
,מֵאָז הַקַּיִץ שֶׁעָבָר
,הוּא לֹא נָפַל, נִשְׂרָט, נֶחְבַּל
.בּוֹדֵד לוֹ נָח עַל הַשּׁוּלְחָן

,הָאַפְּלִיקַצְיוֹת מְבוּסָּסוֹת הַמִּיקּוּם
,רוֹבְצוֹת בְּטֵלוֹת מִשִּׁיעֲמוּם
,כְּשֶׁאֵין לְאָן כְּבָר לַנַּוֶוט
?מָה נוֹתַר לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּעֵת

,גַּם הַמַּצְלֵמָה מוּזְנָחַת
,כָּל הַתְּמוּנוֹת נִרְאוֹת זֵהוֹת
,כָּךְ זֶה כְּשֶׁרֶתּוּקִים לַבַּיִת
.וְזֶה מַרְגִּישׁ כְּמוֹ שְׁלַל דּוֹרוֹת

,בְּקָרוֹב, כָּךְ הֵם הִבְטִיחוּ
,עוֹד נָשׁוּב לְהִתְנָיֵיד
,אַךְ עַד אָז, נוּ, בְּמָטוּטָא
.נָא דָּאֲגוּ לְקַבֵּל זְרִיקוֹת

The Mobile

My mobile phone,
Is stationary at home,
useless,
For quite a long time.

The battery did not run out,
Since the summer past,
It did not fall, got scratched, or damaged,
A loner resting on the desk.

Location-based applications,
Crouching idle from boredom,
When there is nowhere to navigate,
What is left to do right now

The camera also is neglected,
All the pictures look the same,
That is how feels home isolating,
And it feels like a bunch of generations.

Soon, so they made a promise,
We’ll return to getting around,
But until then, oh well, would you,
Please be sure to get those shots.

English Translation

January 21, 2021

עֲדִי

Jul23

עֲדִי ,יַלְדָּה יָפָה קְטַנָּה, רוֹכֶבֶת עַל כְּתֵפָיִים
,שְׁחוֹרָת שֵׂיעָר גּוֹלֵשׁ, בְּרָק חוֹמֵד בָּעֵינַיִים
,אַתָּה אָהוּב שֶׁלָּהּ! הִיא מַכְרִיזָה לְכָל שׁוֹמֵעַ
.לְשָׁם! הִיא מָכְוִוינָה אוֹתִי מִגּוֹבַהּ הַשָּׁמַיִים

,יַלְדָּה יָפָה גְּדוֹלָה, חִיּוּךְ צָחוֹר שִׁינַּיִים
,מַבָּט שֶׁל בַּחוּרָהּ עִם מֶתֶק שֶׁל שְׂפָתַייִם
,בְּחִינוֹת בַּגְרוּת, צָבָא, הִנֵּה סִיְּימָה כְּבָר תּוֹאַר
.כֵּן כֵּן, הִיא מְסַפֶּרֶת, הַזְּמַן כָּאן רָץ כִּפְלַיִים

,אִשָּׁה יָפָה, כְּבָר אִם, בָּנִים אֶחָד וּשְׁנַיִים
,הֶישֵּׂג רוֹדֵף הֶישֵּׂג, דִּינֵי חֶבְרֶה, מִשְׁפָּטִים
,עוֹד צֶבֶר לִימּוּדִים, מוּסְמֶכֶת לְעֵילָא הִיא
.נִדְבָּךְ נוֹסָף הוּשַּׂג, הַגְּבוּל הוּא הַשָּׁמַיִים

,אֲרוּחַת שַׁבָּת גְּדוֹלָה, בַּחוּץ לוֹהֵט הַקַּיִץ
,בּוֹא נְדַבֵּר יוֹתֵר, אוֹמֶרֶת, לֹא נְחַכֶּה שְׁנָתַיִים
,בַּת הַדּוֹדָה הַקְטָנָה שֶׁלָּךְ רוֹצָה לִשְׁמוֹר עַל קֶשֶׁר
.מַבְטִיחַ! עוֹד חִיבּוּק פְּרִידָה, חִיּוּךְ, יִהְיֶה בְּסֵדֶר

Jewel

A little pretty girl, riding on shoulders,
Flowing black hair, bright sweetness in her eyes,
You are her beloved! she announces to whoever listens,
There! she points me from sky-high.

A big pretty girl, bright teeth smile,
The look of a young woman, with sweet lips,
School finals, army service, she finished another degree,
Yes yes, she says, the time here flies twice as fast.

A pretty woman, a mother, a son, and then two others,
Achievement after achievement, social justice, law,
Another set of courses, she is certified very highly,
Another challenge met, the skies is the limit.

Large Shabbat lunch, outside the summer steaming,
Let’s talk more, she says, not wait another two years,
Your little cousin wishes to keep in touch,
Promise! Another goodbye hug, a smile, we will be fine.

English Translation

July 17, 2021

Arithmetic

Jul1

Arithmetic I am the sum of my successes,
The total of my failures,
The proof of my loves,
The result of my disappointments.

I grow by adding new successes,
Continuing to fail,
Demonstrating real love,
Suffering disappointments.

Positives and negatives,
Form a harmonious existence,
The good with a bad,
The right with a wrong.

I’m an uneasy equation,
And mostly well balanced,
Q.E.D. of life,
But not without fault.

July 1, 2021

Near Miss

Jun29

Photo: Joe Raedle – Getty Images

for T.

I could have been there,
Should have joined them,
would have been right too,
Only if.

Made my plans to,
Thought about it,
Meet and spend time,
With my friends.

In the end, I did not go,
Stayed home, and went about my week,
All that took place did without me,
And I escaped it, left unscathed.

Dusty rubble, rescue forces,
loved one missing, tense wait.
Guilt, confusion, painful suffering,
Hard to sleep, harder awake.

June 29, 2021

Storm Door

Jun29

Storm Door The wind that blows hard,
Amid the rooms of your soul,
Flows there mighty and warm,
Through your open-heart door.

Take me in, the storm hisses,
I have tales to remind you,
Of the past you have had,
And the past you did not.

Shut it down, and the air,
Locks outside in a howling,
No aroma or touch,
Neither sense nor comfort.

If ajar, mighty flood,
Overwhelms with emotions,
Past and present regrets,
People, places, and wants.

Tears flow warm down your face,
Dripping painful emotions,
Cannot stop, cannot go,
What to do to dislodge?

Open wide, don’t despair,
Stand your ground with a might!
Work and love shall bring peace,
Tame the storm, heal your heart.

June 26, 2021

הִבְהוּב

Jun18

הבהוב ,בְּחֶשְׁכָּת הָלַיִל, כְּמִיתוֹךְ חֲלוֹם
,אוֹר נוּגֶה מֵאִיר מִתּוֹךְ חָדַר לִבִּי
,הִשְׁאִירוּ אוֹתוֹ חָבֵר שֶׁאָבַד זֶה מִכְּבָר
,חֲבֵרָה שֶׁהָלְכָה וְאֵינָהּ עוֹד
.מִזְּמַן רָחוֹק

,אֲנִי נִגָּשׁ אֶל הַמְּנוֹרָה הֲֲמֶסוֹעֶפֵת
,נוֹגֵעַ בַּמֶּתֶג הַמַּתְאִים
,וְזוֹכֵר
,חֲוָיוֹת, מְקוֹמוֹת, מִלִּים טוֹבוֹת
.אֲהָבוֹת

,הַמֶּתֶג הוּסַט וְכּוּבַּה
,אַךְ הָאוֹר נוֹתָר עוֹד, מְעֻמְעָם
,מֵאִיר אֶת זִכְרוֹנִי
,וּמְסַפֵּר שׁוּב עַל מִי שֶׁהָיָה
.וְעָזַב

,עוֹמֵד וּמַבִּיט בָּאוֹר הַנֶּחֱלָשׁ לְאִטּוֹ
,בַּחֶדֶר נוּגִים אוֹרוֹת אֲחֵרִים
,שֶׁל אֲהָבוֹת שֶׁכָּבוּ
,אַךְ לְעוֹלָם יָאִירוּ
.אֶת פִּנּוֹת לִבִּי

Glow

In the darkness of night, as if from a dream,
A faint light shines from my heart’s chamber,
It was left by a friend who had left long ago,
A girlfriend who is gone and no more,
From a faraway time.

I reach the branched lamp,
Touch the right switch,
And remember,
Experiences, places, good words,
Loves.

The switch moved and turned off,
But the light still remains, dimmed,
Illuminates my memory,
And tells again about who was,
And left.

Stands and looks at the slowly lowering light,
Other lights dim in the room,
Of loves that died,
But which will always light,
My heart’s darkness.

English Translation

June 16, 2021

Dex

May26

Dex Dex’s eyes are closed and he is dreaming,
Chasing after ball in doggy park,
The wind strokes his face, the birds are chirping,
He trembles for a moment and stretches his paws.

His shiny coal coat pressed against me,
His canine instincts now at complete rest,
His back is anchored in the cushions,
His spirit running wild into the chase.

Birds are gossiping outside the window,
Sunlight flows in softly through the shades,
Days like this are rare and are so precious,
It is truly a shame they need to end.

May 26, 2021

בְּיוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן

Apr13

בְּיוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן ,הֶדֵּי הַקְּרָבוֹת, רֵיחוֹת הָאֵשׁ וְהֶעָשָׁן
,נִרְגְּעוּ וְנַמוֹגוּ אֶל אֹפֶק הַזְּמַן
,אוֹתוֹ זַעַם קָדוֹשׁ שֶׁחִירְחֵר מִלְחָמָה
.שָׁכַךְ זֶה מִכְּבָר וְנִטְמָע בַּשִּׁגְרָה

,הַהֹוֶה מִתְגַּלְגֵּל עַל פַּסִים מֻכָּרִים
,שָׁבוּעוֹת אֲרֻכִּים שֶׁל חַיִּים רְגִילִים
,מִשְׁפָּחָה, עֲבוֹדָה, שַׁבָּתוֹת, טִיּוּלִים
.רִיב פּוֹלִיטִי תּוֹרָן, חֲדָשׁוֹת, מִלּוּאִים

,אַךְ מִתַּחַת רוֹבֵץ הַמַּצָּע הָאָפֹר
,זִכְרוֹנוֹת, חֲרָדָה, וּכְאֵב שֶׁיַּחְזֹר
,מִשְׁפָּחוֹת הַנִּסְפִּים שֶׁחָרַב עוֹלָמָן
.רִבּוֹא מַכָּרִים, חֲבֵרִים, בְּנֵי אָדָם

,בְּבָתֵּי הַקְּבָרוֹת הַמִּסְדָּר עַד עוֹמֵד
,בְּשׁוּרוֹת לְבָנוֹת שֶׁל בְּרָק שַׁיִשׁ בּוֹהֵק
,מוּכָנִים כָּאן כְּמוֹ אָז לְמִקְצָב הַפְּקֻדָּה
.שֶׁנִּתְּנָה לִפְנֵי דּוֹר אַךְ עֲדַיִן תְּקֶפָה

,צְעִירִים לְעוֹלָם, חֲסֵרִים הֵם עַד כְּלּוֹת
,הֵם מְחִיר הַחַיִּים כָּאן בָּאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת
,כָּל אַחֵד וּבַיַּחַד הוֹתִירוּ חָלָל
.שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִתְמַלֵּא וַעֲדַיִן נִפְעָר

,לְחֶלְקֵנוּ הַיּוֹם הוּא יוֹם לְזִכָּרוֹן
,לְרַבִּים אֲחֵרִים הוּא חַיֵּי הַיּוֹם יוֹם
,מַעְגָּל הַשְּׁכוֹל כְּלָל הָאָרֶץ נִפְרַס
.הַחִבּוּק לְאוּמִּי, הַכְּאֵב בִּלְתִּי נִתְפַּס

א’ באייר התשפ”א

On Memorial Day

The echoes of battles, the smells of fire and smoke,
Calmed down and faded into the horizon of time,
That holy rage that incited war,
Dissipated a while back and assimilated into daily routine.

The present rolls on familiar tracks,
Long weeks of ordinary life,
Family, work, Sabbaths, trips,
Political quarrel, news, Army reserves.

But underneath lies the gray substrate,
Memories, anxiety, and recurring pain,
The families of the fallen, whose world destroyed,
Many thousands of acquaintances, friends, people.

In cemeteries, the formation ever stands,
In white rows of bright marble shine,
Ready here as then for the rhythm of the command,
Given a generation ago, but still valid.

Young forever, they are missed terribly,
They are the price of living here on this land,
Each one and together they left an emptiness,
That is unfilled and still grows.

For some of us, today is a day for remembrance,
For many others, it is everyday life,
The circle of bereavement spreads throughout the country,
The embrace is national, the pain is inconceivable.

English Translation

April 13, 2021

Atlanta

Mar18

People become disposable,

When they all look indistinguishable,

To you,

When their work seem inferior,

To you,

When their life,

And their death,

Is insignificant,

To you.

March 18, 2021

מִשְׁפָּחָה טֶכְנִית

Feb24

,אַבָּא מַבְרֵג
,אִמָּא פְּלָיֶיר
,יֶלֶד בּוֹרֶג
,יַלְדָּה מַסְמֵר
.יֶלֶד דִיסְקָה

,כָּל הַזְּמַן מְתַקְּנִים
,לוֹחֲצִים
,מְסוֹבְבִים
,מְעַקְּמִים
.חוֹבְטִים

,כְּשֶׁתִּתְבַּגֵּר תַּהֲפוֹךְ מִבּוֹרֶג לִכְלִי עֲבוֹדָה
,תִּהְיֶה מַבְרֵג פִילִיפְּס
,אוּלַי פְּלָיֶיר אַף אָרוֹךְ
,מַפְתֵּחַ צִינּוֹרוֹת
.אוֹ אֵיזֶה כְּלִי עֲבוֹדָה חַשְׁמַלִּי מְתוּחְכָּם

,הַחַיִּים מַצִּיעִים שֶׁפַע אֶפְשָׁרוּיּוֹת
?מָה תִּבְחַר לִהְיוֹת
,בּוֹרֶג קָטָן גָּדוֹל
,בּוֹרֶג גָּדוֹל קָטָן
?בּוֹרֶג סְתָם

,אַבָּא פַּטִּישׁ
,אִמָּא צְבָת
,יֶלֶד מַסְמֵר
,יַלְדָּה בּוֹרֶג
.יֶלֶד חוֹלֵם

Technical Family

Screwdriver father,
Pliers mother,
Screw boy,
Nail girl,
Washer boy.

Constantly fixing,
Pressing,
Rotating,
Curving,
Beating.

As you grow older, you will turn from a screw to a work tool,
Become a Phillips screwdriver,
Perhaps a long nose plier,
Pipe wrench,
Or some sophisticated power tool.

Life offers many possibilities,
What will you choose to be?
A large small screw,
A small large screw,
A simple screw?

Hummer father,
Pliers mother,
Nail boy,
Screw girl,
Dreamer boy.

English Translation

Ophir Palmon, writer

poetry, fiction, life stories, שירה, סיפורת

Author Archives: Ophir Palmon

הַנַּיָּיד

January 21, 2021

עֲדִי

July 17, 2021

Arithmetic

July 1, 2021

Near Miss

June 29, 2021

Storm Door

June 26, 2021

הִבְהוּב

June 16, 2021

Dex

May 26, 2021

בְּיוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן

א’ באייר התשפ”א

April 13, 2021

Atlanta

March 18, 2021

מִשְׁפָּחָה טֶכְנִית

February 23, 2021