Around his neck

Written by Yona Levy Grosman

Translated by Lami Halperin.

Around his neck,
The key to my neck.
And my neck
Is empty of keys.
Doors were opening and
Closing on their hinges
In my father’s house, and grandfather’s and his Grandfather
And keys locked and opened incessantly.
Their hands are empty of keys
Their necks, oh my father,
The heavens were filled with shouting
Their blood
Watered fields, flooded streets.
My feet became as wanderers
My eyes roving,
Whose hand grasped my grandfather’s neck?
And his son, my father,
With no more doors,
His hand in front of me
Clasping keys.