I believe with perfect faith that at this very moment millions of human beings are standing at crossroads and intersections, in jungles and deserts, showing each other where to turn, what the right way is, which direction. They explain exactly where to go, what is the quickest way to get there, when to stop and ask again. There, over there. The second turnoff, not the first, and from there left or right, near the white house, by the oak tree. They explain with excited voices, with a wave of the hand and a nod of the head: There, over there, not that there, the other there, as in some ancient rite. This too is a new religion. I believe with perfect faith, that at this very moment.
— Yehuda Amichai, from “I Wasn’t One of the Six Million: And What Is My Life Span? Open Closed Open” in “Open Closed Open: Poems.” Translated by Chana Bloch and Chana Kronfeld. (Harcourt, 2000)
Notes:
- Thank you for the share via The Hammock Papers
- Photo Credit: Yehuda Amichai in 1986. (Moshe Shai/Flash90)
Hope you have a great week ahead!
I’m glad someone knows where they’re going or can point others, because I feel lost….
I’m standing right beside you Lori… Feeling lost.
Blessings to you, my Internet friend.
Laughing. That Bus (Yours and Mine) is full!
Not sure if I’m interpreting this correctly… (I suppose I have the freedom to interpret it however I choose.)
In my current fairly negative state of mind, I interpret this as: “Lots of people are willing to give you great advice. They share this advice with great confidence. But the reality is that they often have no idea what the hell they are talking about.”
(I hope my interpretation is wrong.)
Laughing. Love this interpretation Paul.
👍
I agree with Paul’s comment.
“not that there, the other there,” … still happily lost. <3
Smiling, good for you Ren.
No words for how much I love this…somewhere there is someone doing the right thing for someone else…encouraging them, guiding them ad nodding at their efforts…I’m holding onto that
We need to, we need to believe this is so.
What’s left to say… I’m thinking. Thank you dear David, and All commentators. Love, nia
guess what, comes in paperback 🙂
love Yehuda Amichai, he could be my dad’s identical twin
Man can write!!!