Translation from Hebrew

Tali Cohen Shabtai

Tali Cohen Shabtai

1. Life of a poetess

Observable
In you
Upon acquaintance…

To uplift
My ancient countenance
In your beauty.

You must warn
Those who knew you
And those who are gone

About the mystery
Of
The custom wherein
Resides the burden
Of your doom

For in a woman

The case
Of such
Her life can only
Be known
By her
Death.
***



2. I am requesting

I am requesting to be
The/ woman
Without
Pain medication
On the face

Without straightening lines
On the profile

Yes?

The woman who has walked
Enough
With signs
From bodies in the
Esophagus.

And the breath
Will not be stopped
In any case !

Not by counting
Thirty four
In the time’s
Axis.

Understood?
***


3. I’ve never really been

Prowess is
Something
Born
I have known to observe
At a stranger
During my entire
Life.

I have known to labor
At the beginning of the
Night

In a disappointing light
That’s the way when one
Purchasing an understanding
Without a homeland.

And they approved my way
Just from the existence
Of
Lips

I have never really
Been
In this world.

(Translated from Hebrew by Eitan Medini)

---

Tali Cohen Shabtai was born in Jerusalem, Israel. She began writing poetry at the age of six, and began publishing her impressions in the school’s newspaper. Her poetry was first published in ‘Moznayim’ when she was fifteen. Tali has written three poetry books: Purple Diluted in a Black’s Thick, (bilingual 2007), Protest (bilingual 2012) and Nine Years Away From You (2018).

Tali studied at the "David Yellin College of Education" for a bachelor's degree. She is a member of the Hebrew Writers Association and the Israeli Writers Association in the state of Israel. In 2014, Cohen Shabtai also participated in a Norwegian documentary about poets' lives called "The Last Bohemian"- "Den Siste Bohemien",and screened in the cinema in Scandinavia. By 2020, her fourth book of poetry will be published which will also be published in Norway. Her literary works have been translated into many languages as well.

Translator: Eitan Medini MD

Born 1941 in Jerusalem under the British Mandate. Finished high school and military service followed by Medical school in Haddassah Jerusalem Israel. Did four years of training in Internal Medicine in Tel Hashomer hospital in Israel. In 1972 moved with wife Rashel and two children to USA. Took another four years of residency trading this time in Radiation Oncology. Since 1976 practice this specialty in Colorado and Minnesota.

Setu, April 2020