by Dido Silva (Herzliya, Israel)
Eretz —
adopted homeland.
Whatever immense goodness exists in me
burns in my chest,
anxious to be yours.
Eretz —
adopted homeland.
It is love — lots of it!
Love to sow and harvest.
Love —
it is what I have to offer you.
I wish for nothing in exchange,
just love:
loyal, incorruptible, and unconditional.
Rising from the ashes
of the first burning temple —
the first panic,
first fear followed . . .
Eretz —
adopted homeland.
They’re yours —
my little bees and their honey.
They’re yours —
my little hands,
which together build your immortality.
You’re my home.
Dido Silva is a Brazilian–Israeli–Dutch poet writing in English. His work explores the intersections of identity, exile, faith, and resistance, often blending political urgency with lyrical reflection. He lives between languages and histories, drawing from Jewish tradition, memory, and myth. His poem is part of a forthcoming collection titled What’s Gonna Be, Orania?
The Jewish Writing Project 