At Kanire Nimtzet Kan by Noa Lara Meir

“You’re Probably Here” – Noa Lara Meir’s Debut Poetry Collection

Noa Lara Meir’s debut collection began taking shape after the death of her mother and developed over several years. The book traverses a spectrum of emotions, from poems embodying the shock, primal grief, and paralyzing loneliness of loss to those reflecting the continuation of daily life—the loves that almost were, hopeless moments, the exhilaration of new relationships, and the tension of routine threatening even them. Meir’s poetry courageously and lucidly examines chaos, emptiness, and mourning, crafting a direct and vivid narrative that readers can almost see unfolding before their eyes.

Mia Tabet Dayan, Editor of the Book, Writes:

“In poetry carved from the raw and bleeding depths of too-early orphanhood, Noa Lara Meir recounts the seasons, the months, the falling leaves, the changing furniture in the house, the ducks in the river, the pairs of shoes left behind—turning the entire world into an inventory that she tallies over and over, as though to ensure that nothing else will be lost.

This debut collection, chronicling the rupture of losing a mother and the subsequent healing, draws from Jewish sources as well as landscapes from the United States, Switzerland, the Carmel mountains, Jerusalem, and Jaffa. It strives to create as precise a portrait of the soul as possible: the wounded soul, the soul attempting to rise, the soul falling in love, the soul rebuilding itself without knowing how, the soul becoming its own mother, reestablishing dialogue. In a clear, singular, and extraordinary voice, this poetry captures the pain and the beauty of existence.”

Judges’ Statement, 2023 President’s Prize for Hebrew Poetry in Memory of Nechama Rivlin:

“This book is filled with love, compassion, and gratitude for the gift of life—even when that life pours into the void. Noa Lara Meir’s poetry is refreshing in its phrasing, written in a natural, flowing Hebrew that is free from stylistic excess and compelling in its vulnerable humanity. Attuned to inner whispers and the larger world around her, Meir’s debut collection is mature, cohesive, and brimming with vibrant speech that confronts, with admirable resolve, the silence imposed by death.”

About Noa Lara Meir:

Born in California in 1990, Noa Lara Meir grew up in Kiryat Tivon and now resides in Tel Aviv. She previously practiced aerial acrobatics and performance art and is currently focused on writing, leading group workshops, and editing content related to language and culture. You’re Probably Here is her first book and won her the 2023 President’s Prize for Hebrew Poetry.