Natan Zach

Natan Zach was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1930, and immigrated to pre-state Israel as a child. After teaching at Tel Aviv University for a number of years, he moved to England (1967-1978), where he completed his PhD at the University of Essex. On his return, Zach was appointed professor at Haifa University. He has also served as chairman of the repertory board of the Ohel and Cameri Theaters.
A poet, critic, editor and translator, Zach has exerted great influence on the development of modern Hebrew poetry. He was the leader of a group of post-Independence poets who changed the face of Hebrew poetry in the 1950s and 1960s.
Zach has been awarded the Bialik Prize (1982), the Israel Prize (1995), the Camaiore Prize (Italy, 2000), the Levy Eshkol Award (2001), Premio dell'Unione di Lettori Italiani (Italy, 2001), the Feronia Prize (Italy, 2003), Cultural Ambassador of Rome (2002), and the ACUM Prize for Lifetime Achievement (2003). Most recently, Zach received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Geneva for "his contribution to the renewal of poetry in the second half of the 20th century" (2004), the honorary title of Cavaliere from the Italian Government (2007), the Gabriele d'Annunzio Prize (2009), the Premio Napoli (Italy, 2010) and the Aquila Prize (Italy, 2010). His work has been published abroad in 23 languages.


One Moment

One moment silence, please. If you please. I
would like to say something. He walked
right past me. I could have touched the hem
of his gown. I did not touch it. Who could have
known what then I didn’t know.

Sand clung to his garments. Twigs
were entangled in his beard. Apparently he’d
spent the night in a haystack. Who could have known
that the following night he’d be
hollow as a cave, hard as stone.

I could not have known. I do not blame
him. Sometimes I feel him rise
in his slumber, moonstruck like the sea, saying
to me, Son.
My son, I never knew you were, this much, with me. 

                                                                Trans. by Jon Silkin