The news of Johnny Weissmuller's death was broadcast in the military jeep
on the way to Beit-Lid.
The head that was turned to the jungles found the orchards of the Sharon.
In January '84 even an orchard is an attraction,
even a sprinkler or
a pitchfork.
Nothing to be done, the land of Israel doesn't live here anymore.
From the fisted heart of rabbi Yehudah Halevy remains the body
and in a basement in a street bearing his name I can
tell a girl: You turn me on.
And she: If you're turned on let me see your engine.

What a great world
where death leaps from branch to branch
and wintry birds hide in the horizon
as if in women's lingerie.






translated, from the Hebrew, by Tsipi Keller