// for soprano flute, clarinet, piano, violin, viola, cello
// texts from Hezi Leskly's cycle "Hebrew Lessons"
// recording: Lunatics At Large Ensemble
This very moment I am learning to write : // fire and electricity // without errors. // and this very moment, fire seizes the writing table //
and the electricity in the room // goes out. // To the light of the burning table // I learn to describe // the fire // and to touch the electricity.
Were it not for the word enveloped // in a black shawl, // I wouldn't say a thing // about the signed word // in the sealed envelope.
When the word will turn to body // and the body will open its mouth // and speak the word from which it was // formed – // I will embrace this body // and lay it to sleep alongside me.
i covered the word // with a blanket // and said: // good // night. //
and the good was bad // and the night was an abstract drawing // on the blanket // and the word shall never fall asleep.
Madame Bonjour’s smelling salts // saved the planet // from eternal unconsciousness. // So claims Madame // Bonjour // at every cocktail party //
organized by the Israeli embassy // in Paris. // I don’t know French // and Madame Bonjour // doesn’t know Hebrew. // Therefore, it goes without saying, that without the help of a blessed translator // I will never know // whether she is a liar // or whether she speaks the truth.
when i will cease to speak hebrew // the table will say: pa-pa // and the father will strike the table // with his fist // and ask: where is my son?