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
Photo credit: James Hawkins We do not pull on our sweaters just yet. It’s more the scent of fresh wine and the squeals of wild boar that signal autumn’s arrival in Israel. Here, the weather has two modes: rain and not rain. When it rains in Israel, it’s cold. The rest of the time, we either boil in the heat or simmer under it. Our summers technically last nine months, and they’re not what you’d call “cool.” If the rain doesn’t come, the heat lingers, and lingers, and lingers ... making our long summers endless. Most of us still wear sandals and shorts well into October. How do you know it’s autumn in Israel if the temperature doesn’t cool down. There are a few subtle signs that summer is slowly coming to an end: The Sea Squill Blooms These flowers bloom around September and last for three to four weeks. Their beautiful white heads stand tall, stretching defiantly against the dry, dusty landscape. Ripening Pomegranates Pomegranates swell and ripen towards the end of su...