The poem
Once a great love cut my life in two. The first part goes on twisting at some other place like a snake cut in two.
The passing years have calmed me and brought healing to my heart and rest to my eyes.
And I'm like someone standing in the Judean desert, looking at a sign: "Sea Level" He cannot see the sea, but he knows.
Thus I remember your face everywhere at your "face Level."
this poem is very beautiful
Once, somewhere in the past, it lives still today and it cuts deeper, once we met and saw each other's face at that face level.....
this poem is one of those gorgeous ones of recognition - I read it and thought "aha, been there!" lovely how she puts to words ones feelings.
I think that the poet seems to be saying that a guy broke her heart and over time, either she forgave him or she no longer cared, her heart was mended. I think when she was talking about "Sea level" & "face level" was that in the desert, there is no sea, unless there's a mirage of one. In a crowd she may invision his face, but she knows he's not really there.
Beautiful poem. I could relate.
WOW i love the poem Once a great love. It's amazing. It's REALLY deep and I can relate.
This poem is very interested.Once A Great Love is the best poem I ever read. Keep up the great work Yehuda Amichai.