P oetry R epair S hop 1999.09:104
- CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL POETRY
- by new, emerging, and established poets


ELISHA PORAT
On the Way to Nabatiya

On the way to Nabatiya
the rocks along the curves
seem to resemble the stone columns
of the bay in San Francisco
or the collapsed fences
in a Hasidic community in Jerusalem.
As I tie the belt of the helmet to my chin
tightly fasten the prickly velcro of my vest
adjust the goggles on my forehead
all at once my eyes grow blurry
and for a moment I can't tell
which is farther away:
The United States or Me'ah She'arim.
 
Lebanon, 1984.
 
Trans. by Tsipi Keler. Used here with the poet's permission.

Poem copyright 1999; all rights reserved. (If you wish to copy this poem, please contact its AUTHOR).