Abstract
The present article deals with abuse, metamorphosis, and ars poetica in the poetry and expository writing of the Hebrew poet Tsvia Litevsky. It aims to examine these issues, focusing on the speaker's relationship with her abusive father, and on the figure of the mother, who refuses to look her in the eye. The first part of the article is concerned with the father's terrifying gaze, and the second is devoted to the absence of the mother's gaze. The article also examines the functions of metamorphosis in Litevsky's poetry. Since the theme of metamorphosis lends itself to writing about sexual abuse, the article shows where transformations embody anxieties, desires, and defense mechanisms for the persona of the poet, who has been violated in body and soul. The article also explores the ways Litevsky channels personal pain into her writing and her spiritual and cognitive exploration.