Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Gilad Meiri

LOVE IN THE TIME OF CORONA

We relax on cushions,
two recluses conversing
during the epidemic, our screens
supporting us in separate homes
as if I were in the men’s section,
you in the women’s,*     
the tip of each letter in our talk coated        
with expectant sweetness.**
We are as restrained as we can be,
legal residents
within the borders of conversation
but the digital partition between us***
is overcome by the fullness of our lips,
our words rub against each other,
kiss through the roof beams.

אהבה בימי קורונה

אהבה בימי קורונה

אָנוּ נִנּוֹחִים עַל מַצָּעִים מְרֻפָּדִים,
מִתְבּוֹדְדִים הַמְּשׂוֹחֲחִים
בַּמַּגֵּפָה, יוֹשְׁבִים סְמוּכִים
עַל מָסַכֵּינוּ, בְּבָתִּים נִּפְרָדִים
כְּאִלּוּ שֶׁאֲנִי בְּעֶזְרַת גְּבָרִים,
אַתְּ בְּעֶזְרַת נָשִׁים
וּקְצוֹת הָאוֹתִיּוֹת בַּשִּׂיחָה
מְצֻפּוֹת מְתִיקוּת דְּרוּכָה.
אָנוּ מְאֻפָּקִים בְּכָל מְאֹדֵנוּ,
שׁוֹהִים חֻקִּיִּים
בִּגְבוּלוֹת שִׂיחָתֵנוּ
אֲבָל הַמְּחִצָּה הַדִּיגִיטָלִית בֵּינֵנוּ
נִגֶּפֶת בְּגֹדֶשׁ שִׂפְתוֹתֵינוּ, 
מִלּוֹתֵינוּ מִתְחַכְּכוֹת,
נוֹשְׁקות מִבַּעַד לַטְּפָחוֹת.

 
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LOVE IN THE TIME OF CORONA

We relax on cushions,
two recluses conversing
during the epidemic, our screens
supporting us in separate homes
as if I were in the men’s section,
you in the women’s,*     
the tip of each letter in our talk coated        
with expectant sweetness.**
We are as restrained as we can be,
legal residents
within the borders of conversation
but the digital partition between us***
is overcome by the fullness of our lips,
our words rub against each other,
kiss through the roof beams.

LOVE IN THE TIME OF CORONA

We relax on cushions,
two recluses conversing
during the epidemic, our screens
supporting us in separate homes
as if I were in the men’s section,
you in the women’s,*     
the tip of each letter in our talk coated        
with expectant sweetness.**
We are as restrained as we can be,
legal residents
within the borders of conversation
but the digital partition between us***
is overcome by the fullness of our lips,
our words rub against each other,
kiss through the roof beams.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère