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Some years ago, I was the guest poet for the Voices of Israel organization. I traveled to Israel, lectured and gave workshops. I stayed on a kibbutz, and also at the home of poet/artist Helen Bar-Lev. I am glad to reconnect with her!

Helen Bar-Lev was born in New York in 1942. www.helenbarlev.com. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology, has lived in Israel over 50 years and has had more than 100 exhibitions of her landscape paintings, 34 of which were one-woman shows. Her poems and artwork have appeared in numerous online and print anthologies. Eight poetry collections, all illustrated by Helen. She is the Amy Kitchener senior poet laureate and was nominated for the Pushcart Prize in 2013 and is the Israeli representative for Immagine & Poesia. Helen is the recipient of the Homer European Medal for Poetry and Art. She is the winner of the Colori dell’Anima” Award 10th Edition for her poetic collection (Sanremo, Italy). She also has held these positions: Assistant President of Voices Israel, Chief Editor of Voices Annual Anthology, and Overseas Connections Coordinator. In October 2023 she was evacuated from her home in Metulla and now resides in Karmiel.

Uprooted

Helen Bar-Lev

Amidst the sirens and missiles

I see myself from a distance

though the binoculars of terrorists

the shock of evacuation

the reluctance of relocation

I imagine my house destroyed

my paintings shattered

the books ashes

the cats scattered

the fragrance of the garden

left to wither

Little by little

an unanticipated acceptance

a letting-go of attachments

a gradual release,

my past erased

Prepared now,

the stone of sorrow burdens

but will not crush

© Helen Bar-Lev 2/2024

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