“All That Was Needed.. “: Dahlia Ravikovitch

Last Friday marked the tenth anniversary of the death of the great Israeli poet, Dahlia Ravikovitch 1936 – 2005. To celebrate her work I post some of her poems in my translation. For my last installment I choose to present “The Window” from True love (1986) since this is a poem about art and life. In her typical minimalistic way Ravikovitch shows what it means to live life as an observer and how this position is necessary to being an artist.

The Window

From True love

What have I ever done?

For years I did nothing.

Only looked through the window.

Rain drops were absorbed into the grass,

Years after years.

It was soft and opulent grass.

Blackbirds stepped there.

Later strings of tiny flowers bloomed

surely in the spring.

Later tulips,

English daffodils,

Snapdragons

nothing special.

I did nothing.

Winter and summer flipped over inside the grass.

I slept as much as possible.

It was a big enough window

All that was needed

I saw through the window

About the Author

I hold a PhD in English Literature from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, specializing in writing about issues related to women, literature, culture, and society. Having lived in the US for 15 years (between 1979-1994), I bring a diverse perspective to my work. As a widow, in March 2016, I initiated a support and growth-oriented Facebook group for widows named "Widows Move On." The group has now grown to over 2000 members, providing a valuable space for mutual support and understanding.