IDEOLOGY AS A WAY OF LIFE by Tali Cohen Shabtai

Women like me, yes
have been added over the years to overshadow 
what preceded us 
that is mostly 
not in line 
with our agenda.

The accepted wording is 
not what 
will satisfy our desires— 

Desires? Ours? Well then, I write 
in the female first person plural 
so as not to sound 
as one who sins with pretension 
as an individual woman, 
however 
I do not have many female friends for this journey 
and those who have already passed 
through a station or two 
according to 
the 
fixed 
rules 
of society.

A woman like me 
tries 
to stay free 
from society 
and at the same time 
to be in it 
with boycotts in double-digit ages 
until the arrival 
of the adolescence age 
and beyond.

I bear this bitter 
in 
sult 
so far.

So! Spare judging 
me 
that “Cohen Shabtai 
has rules 
of her own . . . ” 
as Amos Levitan wrote about me.

I came 
with the goal of 
satiating inspirations 
based on 
my theories.

Therefore 
I collect poems of the margins of humankind, 
since 
they have a greater potential 
to waver from 
the conventions— 
just like me! 
With 50 cents 
in my wallet 
I 
live my own actions
lest
my inarticulate mouth 
will be passed over and my eyes? 
My eyes are blinded.

Women like me, particularly 
at the beginning of 
the fifteenth century 
were persecuted and burned 
for being independent and strong 
at the Catholic church’s instruction

Nowadays? You can petition 
the High Court of Justice. 
So it is for a woman like me.

Tali is a poet, born in Jerusalem, Israel. She has written four bilingual poetry books. In 2021, her new book of poetry will be published, as well as in Norway. Her literary works have been translated and published into many languages.

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