Poems from Kibbutz Regavim

Letter and poems written on stationery from Kibbutz Regavim to Steve & Dale, enclosed with a lock of my sun bleached hair

March 20, 1990

Regavim

Dear Stella & Della, Shalom! (shalom also written in Hebrew)

I'm tired but want to keep awake to watch "Twins" tonight. My Dutch fling - Maarten - left for 2 days in Jerusalem. I miss him - unfortunately - already. (It's funny I'm thinking in Hebrew, but writing in English). Our ulpan ends this week & there's a party tomorrow - plus we receive certificates of completion. I feel sort of depressed that I may never see Maarten again after next week - 'cause we're all leaving to other Kibbutzim or countries - tho' I know the first good-looking guy who comes my will cause me to say "Maarten who?" Maarten's confused - he says he's not gay, but...  I'll be moving next week. This Sabbath we go to Masada & The Dead Sea & Ein Gedi - 4 or 5 hrs. south of here. Last Friday there was a huge PURIM party here (Jewish festival recorded in the Biblical book of Esther), but I hitched to Ramat Yohanan to be with Miriam who's suffering from depression, while there I met another "son" of hers - also American - who says I'll always have a place to stay for the next yr. he's in Jerusalem. Donna moved a week & 1/2 ago to the Jordan Valley - so called occupied West Bank on Jordan's border, near Mt. Gilboa, so I think that's also where I'm going. It's Kibbutz RESHAFIM. Mom's supposed to send me some money, then I'll send Dale his camel I bought. I also asked her to help with the phone bill. Following are some poems I wrote prompted by Maarten...

Love ya,

David (signature in Hebrew)

P.S.

I dreamt of Bob last night. Plus my hair is cut short now.

Maarten

Staring into your Eyes

As you mingle with The Crowd -

Noticing me

Standing near you

You turn and smile,

Touching me

With unspoken words -

Such a gentle feeling -

Something special

Between us

Giving our Lives

Meaning...

Feb. 17, '90

There you were

Standing Silent in the Moonlight

undisturbed

You thought throughout the Night

Then you Turned

And saw me with quiet tears

You came near

And embraced all my fears

Then we kissed

And eternity slipped away

Such soft whispers

Everything I had to say

You understand

And grew stronger still -

I love you

And I always will

March '90

(wrote this sitting beside Maarten as he played his guitar)

Passion & Pain

I tell myself

I don't love you anymore

But deep down inside

I know it's a lie,

And go against

Everything I believe

When I continue

To see you

And know your deceit -

You hurt me more

Then you could know

But I play strong

And struggle not to let it show

But I know that

I've got to go -

Because I can't stand

Being in love with you

When you're in love

With another man...

Feb. 20, '90