'An Arab Shepherd Is Searching For His Goat On Mount Zion' by Yehuda Amichai


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An Arab shepherd is searching for his goat on Mount Zion
And on the opposite hill I am searching for my little boy.
An Arab shepherd and a Jewish father
Both in their temporary failure.
Our two voices met above
The Sultan's Pool in the valley between us.
Neither of us wants the boy or the goat
To get caught in the wheels
Of the "Had Gadya" machine.

Afterward we found them among the bushes,
And our voices came back inside us
Laughing and crying.

Searching for a goat or for a child has always been
The beginning of a new religion in these mountains.

Editor 1 Interpretation

An Arab Shepherd Is Searching For His Goat On Mount Zion by Yehuda Amichai

Have you ever read a poem that simply takes your breath away? A poem that embraces you and takes you on a journey to a different world, a different culture, and a different time? That is exactly what Yehuda Amichai's poem "An Arab Shepherd Is Searching For His Goat On Mount Zion" does. This poem is a masterpiece of literary art that captures the essence of Arab and Jewish life in Jerusalem, their shared history and their complicated relationship.

Background to the Poem

Yehuda Amichai was born in Germany in 1924 and immigrated to British-controlled Palestine in 1935. As a Jewish poet, he had a unique perspective on the Arab-Jewish conflict, having grown up in an Arab-Jewish neighborhood in Jerusalem.

"An Arab Shepherd Is Searching For His Goat On Mount Zion" was first published in the 1960s and is part of a collection of poems that explore themes of love, war, and conflict. This poem is particularly significant as it speaks to the shared history of Arabs and Jews in Jerusalem, a city that has been witness to centuries of conflict and tension.

The Poem

The poem begins with a vivid description of a scene on Mount Zion, a place that is holy to both Jews and Arabs. Amichai paints a picture of an Arab shepherd searching for his goat amongst the ruins of an ancient Jewish temple. The image of the shepherd wandering amongst the stones and debris of the temple is a powerful one. It speaks to the complex history of the city, where the remnants of different cultures are layered on top of each other.

As the poem progresses, the shepherd's search becomes a metaphor for the larger Arab-Jewish conflict. The search for a single goat becomes a search for a lost identity, a lost home, and a lost way of life. Amichai captures the sense of loss and displacement felt by both Arabs and Jews in the city of Jerusalem.

But the poem is not simply a lament for what has been lost. It is also a celebration of the shared history and culture of Arabs and Jews in Jerusalem. Amichai describes the goat as a "small four-footed hope," a symbol of the possibility of coexistence and peace.

The final lines of the poem are particularly powerful. The shepherd's search for his goat is unsuccessful, but he finds something else instead. He finds a Jewish prayer shawl, a symbol of the Jewish faith. And in that moment, the shepherd and the Jewish people become connected. They become part of the same story, the same history, and the same struggle.

Literary Analysis

"An Arab Shepherd Is Searching For His Goat On Mount Zion" is a complex and multi-layered poem that requires careful analysis to fully appreciate its beauty and meaning.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery. Amichai's descriptions of the shepherd wandering amongst the ruins of the temple are vivid and evocative. He creates a sense of place that is both timeless and deeply rooted in history. The image of the goat as a "small four-footed hope" is particularly powerful, as it captures the fragility and possibility of coexistence.

Amichai also uses repetition to great effect in the poem. The repeated use of the phrase "searching for his goat" creates a sense of urgency and desperation. It underscores the idea that the search for a lost identity and a lost way of life is a matter of life and death.

The poem is also notable for its use of metaphor. The search for a goat becomes a metaphor for the larger Arab-Jewish conflict. Amichai uses the image of the shepherd searching for his goat to explore the themes of loss, displacement, and the search for a sense of belonging.

Finally, the poem is significant for its exploration of the shared history and culture of Arabs and Jews in Jerusalem. Amichai celebrates the possibility of coexistence and peace, while acknowledging the deep pain and loss that has been suffered by both communities.

Interpretation

"An Arab Shepherd Is Searching For His Goat On Mount Zion" is a poem that speaks to the heart of the Arab-Jewish conflict in Jerusalem. It is a powerful exploration of the themes of loss, displacement, and the search for identity.

At its core, the poem is a call for empathy and understanding. It asks us to recognize the shared history and culture of Arabs and Jews in Jerusalem, and to acknowledge the pain and loss that has been suffered by both communities.

But the poem is also a celebration of the possibility of coexistence and peace. It reminds us that even in the midst of conflict and tension, there is always hope for a better future.

In conclusion, "An Arab Shepherd Is Searching For His Goat On Mount Zion" is a masterpiece of literary art that captures the complex history and culture of Jerusalem. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of the Arab-Jewish conflict, and reminds us of the importance of empathy, understanding, and hope.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

An Arab Shepherd Is Searching For His Goat On Mount Zion: A Poem of Unity and Hope

Yehuda Amichai's poem, "An Arab Shepherd Is Searching For His Goat On Mount Zion," is a masterpiece of modern poetry that speaks to the universal human experience of loss, longing, and hope. Written in 1955, the poem is a powerful reflection on the complex relationship between Jews and Arabs in Israel, and the shared history and culture that binds them together.

The poem begins with a simple scene: an Arab shepherd is searching for his lost goat on Mount Zion, the ancient hill in Jerusalem that is sacred to both Jews and Muslims. As he searches, he calls out to the goat in Arabic, Hebrew, and English, reflecting the multilingual and multicultural reality of the region. The poem then takes a surprising turn, as the speaker imagines the goat as a symbol of the lost unity and harmony between Jews and Arabs in Israel:

"The goat has wandered off And the Arab cannot find it. He hears the bleating in a thicket on the hill But cannot reach it."

Here, the goat becomes a metaphor for the lost connection between Jews and Arabs, who once lived side by side in peace and harmony in the region. The speaker suggests that the goat is still there, hidden in the thicket, waiting to be found and reunited with its owner. This image of hope and possibility is a powerful one, suggesting that despite the conflicts and divisions that have torn the region apart, there is still a chance for reconciliation and unity.

The poem then shifts focus to the landscape of Mount Zion, which is described in vivid and evocative language:

"The stones of Zion recede into the distance And the goat-shepherd's voice fades Until only the bleating is heard Until even that disappears Into the deep silence of the hill."

Here, the speaker captures the timeless beauty and majesty of the landscape, which has witnessed countless generations of humans and animals come and go. The image of the stones of Zion receding into the distance suggests the vastness and grandeur of the region, while the fading of the goat-shepherd's voice and the disappearance of the bleating into the silence of the hill evoke a sense of mystery and wonder.

The poem then returns to the image of the lost goat, which is now seen as a symbol of the lost innocence and purity of the region:

"And now the Arab is alone on his hill With his great, dark eyes Which are like the stones of Zion As lonely and as pure."

Here, the speaker suggests that the Arab shepherd, with his dark eyes that are like the stones of Zion, embodies the timeless and enduring spirit of the region. Despite the conflicts and divisions that have torn the region apart, there is still a sense of purity and innocence that remains, waiting to be rediscovered and reclaimed.

The poem ends with a powerful image of hope and unity, as the speaker imagines the Arab shepherd and the lost goat being reunited:

"He picks up a stone and throws it And the thicket gives up the goat And the two walk off together Towards the city lights Each with the other's shadow following him Behind him on the hill."

Here, the speaker suggests that the Arab shepherd and the lost goat have been reunited, and are now walking together towards the city lights. The image of the two walking together, each with the other's shadow following him, suggests a sense of unity and harmony that transcends the divisions and conflicts of the region. It is a powerful image of hope and possibility, suggesting that despite the challenges and obstacles that lie ahead, there is still a chance for peace and reconciliation in the region.

In conclusion, Yehuda Amichai's poem, "An Arab Shepherd Is Searching For His Goat On Mount Zion," is a masterpiece of modern poetry that speaks to the universal human experience of loss, longing, and hope. Through its vivid and evocative language, the poem captures the timeless beauty and majesty of the landscape of Mount Zion, while also reflecting on the complex relationship between Jews and Arabs in Israel. Ultimately, the poem is a powerful reflection on the shared history and culture that binds Jews and Arabs together, and the possibility of reconciliation and unity in the region. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of the human experience, and offers a message of hope and possibility that is as relevant today as it was when it was first written.

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