“Not like a Cypress” was written and published early in Amichai's career. No reviews focus specifically on this poem, but Amichai's poetry in general is often studied. In an article written for Judaism, Chana Bloch points out the easy readability of Amichai's poems, which “lend themselves to translation because they speak clearly and directly, and because Amichai's striking metaphors carry the burden of his meaning.” Bloch continues by explaining that this statement is not meant to imply that Amichai's language is simplistic. “His language is far more dense and inventive than this may suggest,” Bloch writes. For example, there are biblical and liturgical allusions “on every page” of Amichai's texts.

After interviewing Amichai, N. Tamopolsky, writing for Forward, explains that “Amichai has become a human representation of Israel itself, a sort of national testimonial.” When Amichai writes about Israel, however, it is through his personal experience...