Nocturnal Lament: The Poetry of David Fogel, Harbinger of Modern Hebrew Poetry

David Fogel is undoubtedly the harbinger of modernism in Hebrew poetry. While other Hebrew poets wrote their poems in systematically measured rhythm, rigid rhyme, and metrical patterns, establishing and aesthetically sculpting "celebrated," symbolic themes, the poetry of David Fogel introduced a novel, innovative trend in Hebrew poetry. Accordingly, his poems are presented in a low-key rhythm of conversational Hebrew. Fogel's poetry introduced a new poetic option in Hebrew poetry, one that replaced the proclivity of "fireworks" with a serene, whispering tone. Topics are somber and subdued, the atmosphere in his poetry is bleak and murky, while quietly refraining from blatant complaint. Fogel is a poet of doom and gloom, while expressing the latter in the most moving fashion of acceptance and surrender. David Fogel tragically perished in the Holocaust in 1944. This anthology contains 75 of David Fogel's poems, translated by the author. "David Fogel's 'ars poetica' distinguishes itself with poetic beauty that had not been introduced, practiced, and displayed yet in modern Hebrew poetry. Undoubtedly, David Fogel's somber, Gothic atmosphere, subdued, melancholic tone, naturally fluent rhythm and meter, and 'mutely' practiced rhyme , topics and ideas are devoid of flowery symbolism. Prof. Yair Mazor's aesthetic probe into David Fogel's art of poetry analyzes meticulously and lucidly the David Fogel's poetic art. Hence, Prof. Mazor's study of David Fogel's poetry enables the readers to appreciate and even admire the poetry of David Fogel from the very depth of its artistic depth to its panoramic, breathtaking view point." -Professor Moshe Pelli, Director & Abe and Tess Wise Endowed Professor of Judaic Studies Interdisciplinary Program in Judaic Studies, University of Central Florida