CompleteClassics.com Sunday, September 05, 2010
Home | Poets | Poems | Search | Random Poem | Contact Us
Yehuda Amichai
(1924 - 2000)
   • Biography  Poems 
<< prev. poem Poems by Yehuda Amichai: 19 / 45 next poem >>
  
  I Want To Die In My Own Bed
 
  All night the army came up from Gilgal
To get to the killing field, and that's all.
In the ground, warf and woof, lay the dead.
I want to die in My own bed.
Like slits in a tank, their eyes were uncanny,
I'm always the few and they are the many.
I must answer. They can interrogate My head.
But I want to die in My own bed.

The sun stood still in Gibeon. Forever so, it's willing
to illuminate those waging battle and killing.
I may not see My wife when her blood is shed,
But I want to die in My own bed.

Samson, his strength in his long black hair,
My hair they sheared when they made me a hero
Perforce, and taught me to charge ahead.
I want to die in My own bed.

I saw you could live and furnish with grace
Even a lion's den, if you've no other place.
I don't even mind to die alone, to be dead,
But I want to die in My own bed.


Translated from the Hebrew by Barbara and Benjamin Harshav

Yehuda Amichai

User Rating:

7.0 /10
(5 votes)



 

  • Click here to list all poems of Yehuda Amichai
  • Click here to search for books of / about Yehuda Amichai at Amazon
  • Find everything about Yehuda Amichai at Google or Altavista
 

- click - Send this page to a friend

 

(c) Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge.  About Us | Copyright notice | Privacy statement
 

Home | Poets | Poems | Search | Random Poem | Contact Us