I Dreamt and Dreamt About You… Homage to my Beloved Israel By Violeta Esquinazi
I believe that I wrote the verses of this poem in my psyche decades ago, as my soul yearned to meet Israel face-to-face. My yearning came to fruition in April 2016 when I landed in Israel and finally got to know her in person, day in and day out, not as a tourist, but as her family tenant. Israel looks as beautiful in the spring, as she does in the winter, when the summer heat remains an illusion turned into packed coffee houses and fall sunsets. My current relationship with Israel is close and intimate, at times conflictive, but unconditionally loyal, inspiring and spiritually uplifting.
I Dreamt and Dreamt About You…
A Homage to my Beloved Israel
by Violeta Esquinazi
Born far away
Years after you became
Your name played music
In my lips un-kissed
The taste of milk and honey
Chanting your hymn by heart
In occasions joyous and sad
I stood before your wavering flag
Loving you blindly
Your spirit enamoured my heart
Tales twirled, snapshots danced
In my fresh and fertile mind
I sat you on a pedestal
Blowing wind above clouds
Aroma of freedom, courage and hope
In the hora I held hands of hope
The tunes swept my feet
Like feathers of doves in flight
The voice, lyrics and notes
Pierced my soul from within
I dreamt and dreamt about you…
The time came to be with you
Today I am here
This miracle, I cannot believe!
The dream fell short of real
Today I know you with my eyes
Your sky is bluer than sapphires
Your land is hot, red and fertile
Pigmented with life, love and fire
You breathe ocean breeze
Desert dust, honey bush
Scents of spring, ancient and fresh
Your sun blinds the eye
Igniting all that is holy and divine
Only you turn deserts into orchards
Your soil blossoms crops of sorts
Your trees bear fruits, nectars of delight
Dates melt in my mouth, pomegranates so red
Nourishment and succulence in my mouth
I hear your voice in children’s play
In street greetings, blessings and cheers
From young and old, far and near
In your coveted soil
All live with honour and pride
I dreamt and dreamt about you…
The time came to be with you
Today I am here
This miracle, I cannot believe!
Your gates are open to all your kind
You are first to come, to rescue and heal
The bereaved, weak, lost or fragile
In your compassion, kindness and justice
You Shine a Light to Humankind
You amaze the world
You are big, not small
You shine a light of hope and shalom
To all nations, far away lands
To friends, supporters and even foes
The many enemies you face
With strength you endure
With faith you believe
Your unfathomable knowledge and will
Beats the sword, the stone, the missile
You are primal and you are novel
You are wise and you are bold
In all seasons you thrive
You’re blue, white, gold and true
You ignite the soul of every Jew
I dreamt and dreamt about you…
The time came to be with you
Today I am here
This miracle, I cannot believe!
As my days with you increase
The honeymoon, the dream all gone
My senses find delight in real time
My love matures, you are not perfect, just true
As a mother and her child, I love you as you are
You stand strong when others shout
You counter life and peace under attack
Your past is an anchor, you know who you are
The horrors gone from the body, not the mind
Never again will you bow, submit or renounce
It is no wonder that in your land
I find refuge, shelter, enjoyment and pride
I can be who I am, my head I hold high
In this Our Holy Land
I acknowledge Our Creator, the Divine
I pray that thy soil be safe
Thy inhabitants know brotherhood and peace
You, Beacon of Light and Hope
If there is one thing I know
You will always BE under Divine Decree
Your flag will wave the world SHALOM!
The end.