'My Child Wafts Peace' by Yehuda Amichai
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My child wafts peace.
When I lean over him,
It is not just the smell of soap.
All the people were children wafting peace.
(And in the whole land, not even one
Millstone remained that still turned).
Oh, the land torn like clothes
That can't be mended.
Hard, lonely fathers even in the cave of the Makhpela*
Childless silence.
My child wafts peace.
His mother's womb promised him
What God cannot
Promise us.
* The traditional burial place in Hebron of Abraham
and the other Patriarchs and Matriarchs of Israel.
Translated by Benjamin and Barbara Harshav
Editor 1 Interpretation
My Child Wafts Peace by Yehuda Amichai
My child wafts peace. When I lean over him, It is not just the smell of soap. All the people were children wafting peace. (And in the whole land, not even one Millstone remained that still turned).
Oh, the land torn like clothes That can’t be mended. Hard, lonely fathers even in the cave of the Makhpela* Childless silence.
My child wafts peace. His mother’s womb promised him What God cannot Promise us.
Yehuda Amichai’s poem, My Child Wafts Peace, is a powerful and poignant piece that captures the essence of peace in the midst of chaos and conflict. As a literary work, the poem is a masterpiece of imagery, symbolism, and emotion that takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery and reflection.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the peaceful aura that surrounds his child. It is not just the smell of soap, but something deeper and more profound. The child represents a sense of innocence and purity that is often lost in the world of adults, where conflicts and tensions are rife. But through the child, the speaker sees hope and the possibility of peace.
The second stanza takes on a more philosophical and metaphysical tone, as the speaker reflects on the state of the land. The imagery of torn clothes that cannot be mended is a powerful metaphor for the division and conflict that has torn apart the land. The reference to the Makhpela, the cave where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were buried, adds a layer of historical and cultural significance to the poem. The fact that even in the sacred space of the Makhpela, there is childless silence, further emphasizes the bleakness of the situation.
But amidst all this darkness and despair, the speaker finds solace in his child. The child’s mother’s womb promised him what God cannot promise us. This line is particularly striking, as it speaks to the power of human connection and love. Even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, the love between a parent and child can provide a sense of comfort and hope.
The final line of the poem, “My child wafts peace,” is a powerful affirmation of the potential for peace in the world. The word “wafts” suggests a sense of lightness and ease, as if peace is something that can be effortlessly carried on the wind. It is a reminder that peace is not just an abstract concept, but something that can be embodied and felt.
Overall, Yehuda Amichai’s My Child Wafts Peace is a masterful work of poetry that explores themes of peace, love, and hope in the midst of despair. It is a testament to the power of language and literature to inspire and uplift, even in the most challenging of times. As a reader, it is impossible not to be moved by the beauty and elegance of this poem, and to be reminded of the importance of seeking peace in our own lives and in the world around us.
Some rhetorical questions come to mind when reading this piece, like what is the significance of the child in the poem? What does the Makhpela represent in the context of the poem? How does the language and imagery used in the poem contribute to its overall impact and meaning? These are all questions that can be explored in greater depth, as the poem offers a wealth of opportunities for literary analysis and interpretation.
In conclusion, My Child Wafts Peace is a timeless and powerful work of poetry that deserves to be read and appreciated by generations to come. It is a testament to the human spirit and a reminder of the potential for peace and love in the world, even in the face of the most difficult of circumstances.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
My Child Wafts Peace: A Poem of Love, Loss, and Hope
Yehuda Amichai, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote a beautiful poem titled "My Child Wafts Peace." This poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of love, loss, and hope. In this article, we will analyze and explain this classic poem in detail.
The poem begins with the line, "My child wafts peace." This line sets the tone for the entire poem. The speaker is talking about his child, who is a symbol of peace. The child is not just a physical entity but a representation of something greater. The child is a symbol of hope, love, and innocence.
The second line of the poem reads, "When I lean over him, or he leans over me." This line shows the intimacy between the speaker and his child. The speaker is close to his child, and they share a special bond. The child is a source of comfort and peace for the speaker.
The third line of the poem reads, "I am a cliff and he is a wing." This line is a metaphor that compares the speaker to a cliff and his child to a wing. The cliff represents stability and strength, while the wing represents freedom and lightness. The speaker is grounded and stable, while his child is free and light.
The fourth line of the poem reads, "He is the reed, and I am the sound." This line is another metaphor that compares the child to a reed and the speaker to the sound. The reed represents flexibility and adaptability, while the sound represents the speaker's voice. The child is flexible and adaptable, while the speaker's voice is strong and powerful.
The fifth line of the poem reads, "He is the needle, and I am the thread." This line is another metaphor that compares the child to a needle and the speaker to the thread. The needle represents precision and accuracy, while the thread represents the speaker's guidance. The child is precise and accurate, while the speaker guides him.
The sixth line of the poem reads, "He is the light, and I am the lens." This line is another metaphor that compares the child to the light and the speaker to the lens. The light represents illumination and clarity, while the lens represents the speaker's perspective. The child brings illumination and clarity, while the speaker provides perspective.
The seventh line of the poem reads, "He is the dew, and I am the grass." This line is another metaphor that compares the child to the dew and the speaker to the grass. The dew represents freshness and vitality, while the grass represents the speaker's foundation. The child brings freshness and vitality, while the speaker provides a foundation.
The eighth line of the poem reads, "When I lean over him, or he leans over me, my nostrils are full of the earth." This line shows the speaker's connection to the earth. The earth represents the speaker's roots and foundation. The speaker is grounded and connected to the earth, and his child is a part of that connection.
The ninth line of the poem reads, "My child leans over me, and I lean over him." This line shows the reciprocity between the speaker and his child. They lean over each other, and they share a bond that is both intimate and powerful.
The tenth line of the poem reads, "We are two parts of a plant, of which one is the roots, and the other is the fruit." This line is a metaphor that compares the speaker and his child to a plant. The roots represent the speaker's foundation and connection to the earth, while the fruit represents the child's potential and growth.
The eleventh line of the poem reads, "In that land, which is split by the Jordan River." This line shows the setting of the poem. The Jordan River is a symbol of division and conflict. The speaker and his child are in a land that is divided, but they are united in their love and bond.
The twelfth line of the poem reads, "My child and I are split from one stone." This line is a metaphor that compares the speaker and his child to a stone. The stone represents strength and durability. The speaker and his child are split from one stone, which means they share a common foundation and strength.
The thirteenth line of the poem reads, "He knows how to find me, underground." This line shows the child's ability to find the speaker even when he is hidden. The child represents hope and light, and he can find the speaker even in the darkest of places.
The fourteenth line of the poem reads, "And the look in his eyes is eternally new." This line shows the child's innocence and purity. The child's eyes are always new, which means he sees the world with fresh eyes and an open heart.
The fifteenth and final line of the poem reads, "And I cry to him, and he cries to me." This line shows the emotional connection between the speaker and his child. They cry to each other, and they share their emotions and feelings.
In conclusion, "My Child Wafts Peace" is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of love, loss, and hope. The speaker and his child share a bond that is both intimate and powerful. The child represents peace, hope, and light, while the speaker represents strength, guidance, and foundation. The poem is a metaphor for the human experience, and it shows that even in a divided and conflicted world, there is still hope and love.
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