CRE#4 on Amichai’s Poetry

My Mother Died on Shavuot

Death became a common occurrence in Amichai’s life; due to his background, having serving
in several wars in his lifetime. This poem “My Mother Died on Shavuot” explores a persona who
experiences death in his family. His mother having died on a shavuot while his mother’s brother
in war. The persona himself, almost experiences death himself. This poem overall aims to
highlight the theme of death through its use of imagery and historical context, while also aiming
to criticise religion itself.

The theme of death can be evidently seen in the first stanza, being described as something
everyone will eventually experiences “at the end of some counting, long or short”. Furthermore
two imageries of death are shown, one being his mother’s death on shavuot while the other his
mother’s brother in war. Another imagery shown to further highlight the theme of death is when
the persona stands before his mother’s grave, beside her father grave. This shows how death is
something eventual. Another imagery shown is a flashback to the past where the graveyard,
where a war takes place and death is implied to have happened to soldier who fought by the
tombstones. This shows the inescapability of death, and is treated something that has taken
place before and will continue to take place due to war.

Taking into detail the time of death of the persona’s mother’s brother death, it took place in the
time of the first world war which was around 1916. Furthermore the persona is also described to
have fought in a war in 1948. It was around the time of 1948 that the Arab-Israeli War takes
place. Aside from these historical context there is another war which takes place in a graveyard
“twenty years ago”. The use of historical context further shows the theme of death and treats
death as something common and henceforth loses its meaning. This is all supported by the
monotone, tone of the poem, which sounds robotic. Due to the death being a common
occurrence around the persona, death becomes dull and the persona if no longer emotionally
affected by it.

The use of religious context can mainly be seen in the first stanza, where his mother dies on a
shavuot. “Shavuot” is a religious pilgrimage in honor of God’s greatness. The fact the persona’s
mother dies on the shavuot, serves as a criticism to God. It shows God as unmerciful and
unloving as he allows death to happen during this religious holiday. It may also serve to show
that death maybe more powerful than religion as not even religion can save us from death.

​Overall, the poem “My mother died on shavuot” was formed due to the experiences Amichai
had faced in his lifetime, he might as well be the persona himself. This poem revolves around
the theme of death as seen through the use of the various imagery in the poem and aims to
show death's triumph over even religion itself, or God as unmerciful.