If I cry in February
It’s that time of year again …
February in Israel —
And a love poem
has been percolating
inside of me.
Each Saturday in February, I promise to find the words and put them down. But instead I get lost in the fields of my muse.
In fact …there she is again.
See her?
With my pointer finger, I trace her fleeting beauty.
But as quickly as verse forms, it crumbles.
There are no words.
She is to be seen, not heard.
And yet …
A love poem
percolates
inside me.
What to do with all those
almost-words?
Continue to try to capture with precision
my longing?
Her sultry stare?
A nation’s adoration?
Why must I?
Why can’t I just love her?
If I cry in February,
be kind.
Know that it’s because I’m once again
without words.
In love —
for the briefest of breaths.
With a flower.
===
One day I will — write a poem. But until then, please enjoy this song written by Nathan Altermann in 1945 and first sung by Shoshana Damari. Translated lyrics in English may be found here.