Welcome to the beautiful world of Philip Terman's poems. Beauty yes, but also bucketfuls of compassion, of love: for family, for tradition and for the poet himself.
So enjoyable to read these. The lovely details described in My Tahara. "He is pure" reminds me of the morning prayer that says the soul you have given me is pure. The final return of the soul.
My Grandfather Reading the Forvitz reminded me of my father describing how his father would also read it aloud, after work, in the kitchen as my grandmother cooked. He only had a third grade education in Odessa. Same with my grandmother but she was proud of being able to read War and Peace in Russian. My father spoke Yiddish too, then it was lost. Thanks for this post.
"My Taharah," is such a bold poem of toggle between spirit and body at a certain point in one's life. This poetry is so powerful because it shows how the very old and traditional perspectives can fuel one's survival in the modern world. And on into the future. They constantly infer and affirm there will be a future that will arise out of the strong and sturdy perseverance of the past. This poetry is golden in the spiritual sense. Thanks so much for such a beautiful post.
There are really no words for how much I love these poems. I'm so honored they're here.
So enjoyable to read these. The lovely details described in My Tahara. "He is pure" reminds me of the morning prayer that says the soul you have given me is pure. The final return of the soul.
My Grandfather Reading the Forvitz reminded me of my father describing how his father would also read it aloud, after work, in the kitchen as my grandmother cooked. He only had a third grade education in Odessa. Same with my grandmother but she was proud of being able to read War and Peace in Russian. My father spoke Yiddish too, then it was lost. Thanks for this post.
"My Taharah," is such a bold poem of toggle between spirit and body at a certain point in one's life. This poetry is so powerful because it shows how the very old and traditional perspectives can fuel one's survival in the modern world. And on into the future. They constantly infer and affirm there will be a future that will arise out of the strong and sturdy perseverance of the past. This poetry is golden in the spiritual sense. Thanks so much for such a beautiful post.
What a wonderful voice. Just fabulous.
I so agree.
These are such marvelous poems, so evocative.