Tal Nitzan

The Hours

And without it being explained to them how

As if they knew it from generations before, from birth,

They shrank themselves into a closet and shrank their breath and waited

And no one came.

 

And between their fingers like a rosary

They dissolved the promise until it became

Apathetic ashes burning in their throats

And no one came.

 

And they tossed one by one their innocent treasures

Like someone who throws the weight out of a boat

And they sank into a dense and determined orphanhood

And no one came.

 

And for a moment they wondered if the fault was theirs

If they had failed to solve the terrible riddle

But they knew, in a moment they will be held by arms of solace

And no one came.

 

And they caressed the children with hands drenched in blood

While around them the walls were melting till the very last

And a crack appeared from sea to sea

And the world ran out of angels

And darkness came down

Blacker than any other darkness

 

And an hour passed and then another hour and another hour and another hour
And another and another and then another hour and another and then another hour and no one
came.

 

 

*"The Hours" was written after the October 7th attack, about the besieged people who waited for help and rescue, but in vain. The shock and grief that generated this poem continued afterwards as a reaction to the war, along with the hope for a peace treaty and an end to the bloodshed.

 

Translated to English by Shachar Mor

About the Author

Tal Nitzan, award-winning poet, author and translator. Published seven books of poetry, two novels, a collection of stories, and six children's books. Fourteen translated selections of her poetry have been published in the world. Translated about eighty works in poetry and prose from Spanish and English. She won the Minister of Culture's awards for poets and for debut authors, and also the Hebrew University and Bar-Ilan awards for poetry, award for translators on behalf of the Minister of Culture, the Tschernihovsky Award for exemplary translations, a medal of honor from the President of Chile, and more.