Book excerpt: A collection of modern Hebrew poetry that presents the poems in the original Hebrew, with an English phonetic transcription. In this new and expanded edition of a classic volume first printed in 1965, The Modern Hebrew Poem Itself adds the dynamic voices of a new generation of Hebrew poets. Each poem appears in both its original Hebrew and an English phonetic transcription, along with extensive commentary and a literal English translation. This offers readers who know little or no Hebrew a way to experience the poem in a multi-faceted way--they are able to speak and hear the lines as well as grasp the poem's meaning. Recognizing that poems have a unique order that may be missed by a reader who doesn't speak the poet's language, the editors provide the reader with an understanding of not only what the poet is saying, but how the idea is communicated. Also included in the volume is a valuable introduction to and historical overview of Hebrew poetry from 1880-1990. The Modern Hebrew Poem Itself is a must-have for lovers of poetry and Jewish literature.