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ANNIVERSARIES OF WAR: HULEIKAT -- THE THIRD POEM ABOUT DICKY, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography


"Anniversaries of War: Huleikat -- The Third Poem About Dicky" by Yehuda Amichai is a profound meditation on memory, loss, and the inexorable march of time, set against the backdrop of war's aftermath. The poem contemplates the changing nature of relationships and the enduring impact of war on the human psyche.

The poem opens with a description of a landscape where even the oil derricks, symbols of industrial progress and exploitation, have become mere memories. This setting establishes a tone of reflection and decay, hinting at the passing of time and the fading of once-vivid realities.

The speaker reminisces about Dicky, who was four years older and served as a father figure during "times of disaster and adversity." This relationship is poignantly reimagined as the speaker, now significantly older than Dicky ever was, views him as a "young son" while considering himself as an "old and in mourning" father. This reversal in roles highlights the transformative power of time and memory and the strange dynamics of aging in relation to those who die young.

Amichai implores the reader to remember not just the faces of those lost in war but also their vitality – "the outstretched arms and the lightly running feet and the words." This plea serves to humanize the often faceless victims of war, emphasizing their once-vibrant lives and their individuality.

The poet reminds us that the path to war paradoxically passes through scenes of everyday tranquility and normalcy – "gardens and windows and children playing and a barking dog." This juxtaposition underscores the abrupt and jarring transition from peace to violence, from the ordinary to the catastrophic.

Amichai concludes with powerful imagery, urging us to remember the cyclical nature of life and the potential for change and renewal. The "fallen fruit" should recall its time on the branch, the "hard thorns" their springtime softness, and the clenched "fist" its origin as an "open palm and fingers." This imagery serves as a metaphor for human transformation, suggesting that aggression and hardness may once have been peace and openness, and could be so again.

In "Anniversaries of War: Huleikat -- The Third Poem About Dicky," Amichai explores the complex interplay of memory, loss, and the passage of time, while reflecting on the tragic and often senseless nature of war. The poem is a poignant reminder of the enduring human capacity for change, resilience, and the preservation of dignity in the face of destruction.


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