Amir Gilboa

Amir Gilboa (; born 25 September 1917 – died 2 September 1984) was an Israeli poet. Gilboa was awarded the Israel Prize for literature in 1982.

Biography Berl Feldmann (later Amir Gilboa) was born to a Jewish family in Radziwillow (now Radyvyliv, Volhynia) in Ukraine. In 1937, he immigrated to Mandate Palestine. In 1942, he enlisted in the British Army and fought with the Jewish Brigade after its formation. In 1948, he fought in Israel's Independence War. He died in 1984 at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva due to complications from ischemic heart disease.

Literary career In 1949, he published a volume of poetry entitled Sheva Reshuyot ("Seven Domains") about his war-time experiences. This collection, along with his Early Morning Songs, published in 1953, established his reputation as a leading Hebrew poet. His early work was influenced by Avraham Shlonsky and Natan Alterman, especially in its use of archaic, biblical Hebrew. Later, his language becomes more colloquial, with an abundance of rhymes, word play and satirical commentary. I Wanted to Write the Lips of Sleepers, published in 1968, is devoted to the act of writing poetry and the poet's feelings. In 1982, he was awarded the Israel Prize, for Hebrew poetry.