Contemporary Hebrew Ecopoetry

Between Contemplation and LamentationLamentation

Abstract

In contemporary Hebrew poetry, eco-poems are published in growing numbers, yet only little scholarly material has been dedicated to what has been a significant literary genre in world literature in the past decades, particularly in the U.S.A. and Europe. This paper places contemporary Hebrew ecopoetry on the map of world ecopoetry. The genre consists of ecocentric nature poetry,positioning the entire ecosystem, rather than humans, at the center. This approach is based on humility towards nature, and acknowledgment of the human-generated disaster brought upon it.

The paper identifies two main thematic streams in contemporary Hebrew ecopoetry. The first includes poetry contemplating nature, i.e., the entire ecosystem—geo and bio, flora and fauna (e.g., Sabina Messeg, Dror Burstein and Agi Mishol); whereas the second type of poems focuses on humans’ impact on nature and the environment (e.g., Adi Wolfson, Agi Mishol and Mirale Moshe-Alvo). It may be argued that while the last type of poem laments the destruction of the natural environment, describes the mounting catastrophes and warns of those to come, the first admires existing nature, finds consolation in contemplating it, and thus encourages readers to both be in nature and preserve it. Both streams may be interpreted as poems of protest calling for action. Closely reading a selection of poems of both types, this paper suggests an eco-critically based interpretation. Thus it shows how contemporary poets’ view suggests a meaningful contribution to the understanding of climate crisis, and a forceful step towards change.