What it is about
Yael Hacohen’s poetry book, “The Dove That Didn’t Return,” offers a personal and poignant collection of 46 poems. With her background as a soldier, daughter, and mother, Hacohen brings forth verses that evoke deep reflections on life behind and beyond the conflict.
Why it matters
This slim book of poetry emerges as a refreshing break from the overwhelming volume of prose essays, news reports, and military analyses surrounding the prolonged conflict. Hacohen’s poetic expressions add a unique and universal quality that can resonate with readers irrespective of their political views, providing both an informative and cathartic experience.
Key Details
Yael Hacohen, a lecturer at Tel Aviv University’s English Department, has compiled these poems from her rich personal experiences. With academic credentials from prestigious institutions and roles in international literary circles, her poetic work reflects a blend of intellectual rigor and emotional depth.
The Universal Resonance
Despite Hacohen’s background that might hint at a certain political inclination, her poems largely carry a universal appeal. Written from the gut, they tap deeply into shared human emotions and experiences, thus reaching hearts across political divides.
Memorable Excerpts
The poems reflect various stages and experiences Hacohen has gone through, such as the bittersweetness of national duty and the sorrow of human displacement. Here is an excerpt from the poignant poem ‘Settlement’ which invokes the 2005 expulsion from Gush Katif:
SETTLEMENT
I am ordered to evacuate this family by force.
It’s then, I remember a line
of olive trees in a field when I lift
the shield over my brow.
…
Another remarkable piece, “Amos 3:5,” which won a peace poetry award, examines the unintended consequences of landmines and human conflict:
AMOS 3:5
Of course, it wasn’t the landmine’s fault. The young couple parked
their car on the hem of the road. It was a wheat field. No, it was
barley. Wild and green stems swayed like birds in summer.
…
Biblical Inspirations
Many of the poems, like “The Dove That Didn’t Return,” are rooted in biblical narratives, linking modern-day experiences with ancient wisdom. Such connections provide a profound depth and richness to the text.
THE DOVE THAT DIDN’T RETURN
The dove that didn’t return to the ark
thought she’d have the world to herself.
She couldn’t wait to fly off that floating
pile of wood planks, to escape the stench and the roaring.
…
Final Thoughts
Despite a few minor editorial oversights, “The Dove That Didn’t Return” succeeds in providing a soul-stirring exploration into the lives affected by conflict. Hacohen’s poems, though not always uplifting, resonate deeply and offer a much-needed refreshing form of expression during these trying times.
The Dove That Didn’t Return: Poems
By Yael Hacohen
Holy Cow! Press
76 pages; $17
This story was first published on jpost.com.