Member-only story

Open Closed Open: Exploring the Poetic Tapestry of Yehuda Amichai

Jerry Ward

·9.3k Followers· Follow

Published in Open Closed Open: Poems Yehuda Amichai

4 min read

123 View Claps

14 Respond

Save

Listen

Yehuda Amichai, a renowned Israeli poet, is celebrated for his evocative and profound body of work, which often explores the complexities of human existence, memory, and the relationship between the individual and the wider world. Among his most acclaimed collections is "Open Closed Open," a series of poems that delves into the interplay between open spaces, boundaries, and the passage of time.

Open Closed Open: Poems

by Yehuda Amichai

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	754 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	201 pages

Open Spaces and Boundaries

Throughout the poems in "Open Closed Open," Amichai returns repeatedly to the concept of open spaces, both literal and metaphorical. These spaces can represent a sense of possibility, freedom, and potential. In the poem "Open Country," for instance, the speaker describes a landscape that is "open and waiting" where "everything is possible."

However, these open spaces are often juxtaposed with the presence of boundaries. Walls, fences, and other barriers serve as physical and psychological obstacles, blocking movement and limiting the possibilities for connection. In the poem "Closed City," the speaker laments the presence of "a high wall" that divides the city, creating a sense of isolation and separation.

The Passage of Time

Time is another central theme in Amichai's "Open Closed Open" poems. The passage of time can be both a source of growth and loss, a progression that brings new experiences while simultaneously marking the end of others. In the poem "Time," the speaker contemplates the fleeting nature of existence, observing that "time passes like a river."

Amichai also explores the way that memory interacts with time. In the poem "Open Memory," he writes: "My memory is a field / that is always open." This suggests that our memories are not fixed or static but instead remain fluid and subject to change over time.

The Interplay of Open and Closed

The title of the collection, "Open Closed Open," captures the central tension that runs through the poems. Open spaces and closed spaces, the passage of time, and the fluidity of memory all come together to create a complex and multifaceted experience.

In the poem "Open Closed Open," Amichai writes: "The door is open, the door is closed. / I am outside, I am inside." This line encapsulates the sense of paradox and ambiguity that permeates the collection.

Yehuda Amichai's "Open Closed Open" poems invite us to contemplate the boundaries and possibilities of human existence. They explore the interplay between open spaces and closed spaces, the passage of time, and the fluid nature of memory. Through his evocative and thought-provoking verse, Amichai challenges us to consider the delicate balance between freedom and constraint, past and present, and the complexities of being human.

Open Closed Open: Poems

by Yehuda Amichai

4.5 out of 5