Thilde Fox, IL

 

 

Free Verse   With you Always 1   I am the First the Beautiful the Beloved I rule the serpent's tongue whisper in women's ears trick men's eyes I nudge limbs at night roam through dreams kidnap sleep I tempt the gross mock the weak pinch the sick I warp truth blow up lies nurture rumours I ride mosquitoes scatter viruses twist genes in the womb I stick locks lose keys stall engines I guide the hand that lifts the glass sells the dope tosses the bomb I am Lilith I stalk after life and strut beside death I am movement and change and growth I am with you for ever.     With You Always 2   I am the first the favourite the fallen coins tumble through my fingers overflow my pockets men crave the gold I spin they scrabble in mines hack poppy fields shuffle cards trade shares I laugh with kings and paupers sow greed in their eyes and lies on their tongues I itch their fingers I am Lucifer the ruler the mover I am strife and passion and thrills I am with you for ever     Crusader Song   The oaks in the forest are thick and strong, Robin Hood is hunting with Friar Tuck and John, Shining knights in armour riding through the grass Wave to Maid Marion singing as they pass. Christmas Day in the forest the oaks are cold and bare, In Galilee the sun lights up the fresh blue air. Knights in shining armour on the green way Make wreaths of poppies to celebrate the day. In Galilee in summer the sun burns through the heat, Parched hills loom over the grey lake at their feet. Knights in burning armour, fighting for breath, Through the crackling yellow fields straggle to their death. (The Battle of Hittin, July 4th 1187)     To Mozart   Where do the notes live before you catch them? Do they hide behind the skies till you pluck them down and toss them out again like catherine wheels bursting into sound? Do you marshall them in sober rows, obedient to your pen, till they scatter like shooting stars, trails of music singing through the heavens for God to gather in and send back to you for His delight? When you put away your pages do they storm your pillow and tease your sleep till you wake enchanted and sing again?   About Thilde Fox, IL , Thilde Fox: Born in Vienna 1930, Kindertransport to England 1938, Israel 1953, first to Kibbutz Amiad, married an English man (despite previous ideas that she wanted to marry a real Israeli!) in 1954, and two years later moved to Haifa. She has lived in Tel Aviv for the last five years, before that in Haifa . She has two daughters, one son, and six grandchildren. Thilde has been published in Lilith Magazines, The Dybbuck of Delight, Voices Israel Anthology, ARC.  Twice Thilde won several prizes in the RR Competitions.     Thilde is on the far right attending the June 2008 HAIFA VOICES WORKSHOP. The other people – from right to left, Tommy Berman, David and Wendy Blumfield.