A Pity. We Were Such a Good Invention by Yehuda Amichai
"A Pity. We Were Such a Good Invention" by Yehuda Amichai is a poignant exploration of the complexities inherent in human relationships, particularly focusing on marriage. Known for its stark minimalism, the poem comprises a mere eleven lines, yet it conveys deep emotional and philosophical insights. Influenced by the English metaphysical poets, particularly John Donne, Amichai employs striking imagery to intertwine erotic, religious, and political themes within the context of matrimony. The poem's central metaphor contrasts the act of marrying with the pain of amputation, suggesting a profound sense of loss and transformation. This imaginative comparison extends to the depiction of marriage as a delicate, precarious flight, evoking feelings of both connection and instability. Critics have noted Amichai's ability to provoke thought by juxtaposing seemingly disparate ideas, inviting readers to reflect on the nature of love and commitment. Overall, the poem serves as a testament to the intricate dynamics of relationships, marked by both beauty and tragedy.
A Pity. We Were Such a Good Invention by Yehuda Amichai
Excerpted from an article in Magill’s Survey of World Literature, Revised Edition
First published: 1967 (collected in The Selected Poetry of Yehuda Amichai, 1996)
Type of work: Poem
The Work
Lauded for its startling directness and austere language, “A Pity. We Were Such a Good Invention” in many ways epitomizes the stylistic tendencies for which Amichai’s poetry is best known. Notably minimalistic, the original Hebrew version contains a mere eleven lines and thirty-five words. Benjamin and Barbara Harshav’s English translation is only slightly more expansive at seventy-two words. Still, the poem contains a wealth of insight about the nature of human relationships.
A number of critics have noted the pronounced influence of the English metaphysical school, particularly of John Donne and George Herbert, in Amichai’s poetry. Critic Edward Hirsch compares “A Pity. We Were Such a Good Invention” to the classic Donne works “The Good-Morrow” and “The Canonization,” citing its incisive attempts at combining erotic, religious, and political imagery to characterize the nature of matrimony. For example, in the poem’s remarkably imaginative central conceit, the speaker compares his betrothal to his wife to an amputation. The ensuing consummation of the marriage is likened to “An aeroplane made from a man and wife.” The poem’s closing lines beautifully describe the ambivalence of their tragic, brief union as a period in which they “hovered,” albeit like a malfunctioning aircraft, “a little above the earth.”
In the manner of Donne, Amichai chooses to draw original and enormously provocative comparisons between things that are seemingly unlike, such as marriage and amputation, divorce and airplane flight.
Bibliography
Abramson, Glenda, ed. The Experienced Soul: Studies in Amichai. Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 1997.
Abramson, GlendaThe Writing of Yehuda Amichai: A Thematic Approach. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1989.
Alter, Robert. After the Tradition: Essays on Modern Jewish Writing. New York: Dutton, 1969.
Alter, Robert. “Israel’s Master Poet.” The New York Times Magazine, June 8, 1986, 40.
Cohen, Joseph. Voices of Israel: Essays on and Interviews with Yehuda Amichai, A. B. Yehoshua, T. Carmi, Aharon Appelfeld, and Amos Oz. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1990.
Hirsch, Edward. “In Language Torn from Sleep.” The New York Times Book Review, August 3, 1986, pp. 14-15.
Hirsch, Edward. “At the White Heat.” In How to Read a Poem: And Fall in Love with Poetry. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1999.
Lapon-Kandelshein, Essi. To Commemorate the Seventieth Birthday of Yehuda Amichai: A Bibliography of His Work in Translation. Ramat Gan, Israel: Institute for the Translation of Hebrew Literature, 1994.
Publishers Weekly. Review of Open Closed Open, by Yehuda Amichai. (March 20, 2000): 71.
Williams, C. K. “Yehuda Amichai” (obituary). The New Republic (October 9, 2000): 28.