Karen Alkalay Gut

Karen Alkalay Gut Poems

Karen Alkalay Gut Biography

Karen Alkalay-Gut ( born 29 March 1945) is an award-winning poet, professor, and editor who lives in Israel and writes in English. Born in London on the last night of the Blitz buzz bombs, Alkalay-Gut moved with her parents and brother Joseph Rosenstein to Rochester, New York in 1948. She graduated from the University of Rochester, with a BA with honors, and a MA in English literature in 1967. From 1967–70 she taught at the State University of New York at Geneseo before returning to complete her doctorate. In 1972 she moved to Israel, and began teaching at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev (1972–76). In 1977 she moved to Tel Aviv University, where she continues to teach.)

The Best Poem Of Karen Alkalay Gut

All poetry is revolutionary

Because it demands you think of words
Not to convey information
And perhaps to lie,
Like so many users of words
- in commerce,
Education, statistics,
Journalism, politics.

All poetry is revolutionary
Because it takes Meaning back
To a place we all know
But perhaps have forgotten
When we were schooled to say
What has been said before
Instead what we see
And hear. And feel.

Poets are the true revolutionaries
Whatever we write about
Because we want you
To take back the tools
You knew
Before you learned how
You're supposed to talk,
Read, see the world.

All poetry is revolutionary
Because it says
Take back your life
Own it
And make it
What it should be.

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