A Blue-Chrome Sky | An Israeli Poem - 27 December, 2025 A blue-chrome sky The rain, or rather the on-and-off deluge, has polished the skies to a bright chrome. Large clouds strive to hide our solid sun but the light pace like a hidden metronome Flood-filled grays tried its best to reign But the blue would often glow through Or at least sent a few bright rays Turning the storm clouds a lighter hue Dark and charcoal and ash-grey colours With loud noise and scary-looking shadows Eventually fracture over our ancient hilltops In Israel the melody of light never stops. Flood-filled grays tried its best to reign But the blue would often glow through Or at least sent a few bright rays Turning the storm clouds a lighter hue In Israel the melody of light never stops Zichron Yaakov, 27 December, 2025
The Blasting Taps by Marina ShemesH
Israel is a hot country (except for ten days in the winter!) and children from kinder garden age are taught: If you go out, bring a hat and a water bottle. All the parks and public spaces have a water cooler. You will even find a water cooler, with disposable cups, in banks, medical centers and libraries for the use of the patrons.
And on hiking trails you will often a tap such as the one in the photo. These taps have the sweetest, coolest water and hikers will drink their fill and then fill up their water bottles before they continue with their hike.
That is all wonderful, isn't it? The only problem is that these taps point upwards! As soon as you open the tap, you are blasted (NOT merely sprayed) with a shot of ice cold water right in the face or chest! Much to the amusement of onlookers. And believe me, there is always somebody watching when they should not. If you wear a white T-shirt, be extra wary! :)
Opening the tap just a little bit does not help. The tap is either closed or open 100%. And good luck trying to fill your water bottle, you have the catch the water on it's downwards arch - but only after you figured out the general direction of the spray, the upwards and downwards trajectory arch AND water velocity. In some cases a physics degree may be needed!
If you ever come across one of these taps, feel free to drink the water (it is safe) but be warned: These taps BLAST!
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| Water tap on the Ya'ala Mountain |
Israel is a hot country (except for ten days in the winter!) and children from kinder garden age are taught: If you go out, bring a hat and a water bottle. All the parks and public spaces have a water cooler. You will even find a water cooler, with disposable cups, in banks, medical centers and libraries for the use of the patrons.
And on hiking trails you will often a tap such as the one in the photo. These taps have the sweetest, coolest water and hikers will drink their fill and then fill up their water bottles before they continue with their hike.
That is all wonderful, isn't it? The only problem is that these taps point upwards! As soon as you open the tap, you are blasted (NOT merely sprayed) with a shot of ice cold water right in the face or chest! Much to the amusement of onlookers. And believe me, there is always somebody watching when they should not. If you wear a white T-shirt, be extra wary! :)
Opening the tap just a little bit does not help. The tap is either closed or open 100%. And good luck trying to fill your water bottle, you have the catch the water on it's downwards arch - but only after you figured out the general direction of the spray, the upwards and downwards trajectory arch AND water velocity. In some cases a physics degree may be needed!
If you ever come across one of these taps, feel free to drink the water (it is safe) but be warned: These taps BLAST!
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