Gabriella

Gabby, Gabriella,
Haifa by the sea,

We shared a common desk,
Gabby, Gabriella,
Her blond braids,
I'd never seen anyone more beautiful.

Where Were You?

And they will ask, "Where were you
during the holocaust of the animals?"

And they will ask "Do you recall Sobibor
when 600 calves, goats, ducks bit through 

barbed wire fences and fled to the Polish woods
to join the Partisans?"

And they will ask "Where were you Grandma, 

Nana, Aji, Safta?

And you will say, "Don't worry your pretty
heads my sweet ones.  I was at my barbecue 

roasting one of their cousins."

Saying Kaddish

Beyond all songs, all blessings,
beyond all praises, all comforts
let us praise your great Name.

When diminished, orphaned, enslaved,
let the heart swell up and 

praise your great Name.

When outcast, spurned, in despair,
let us find strength, stand our ground,
and fuse with the Divine.


In spring, frogs surface from their pools,
remember, you don't have to explain or apologize,
you are alive, one day you will go.


Saying Kaddish for our cherished expectations,
for our picture perfect life, for how it should all unfold 

and on what timeline.

Bread From the Earth

Not by bread alone,
but by eggplant, bok choy, and radish,

Not bread alone,
but by pepper, chili, and scorching sumac,

Not by bread alone,

but by stretching savannah,
October clouds set upon an eternal sky.

Soup From A Stone

I wanted understanding,

I got transmissions from the Oracle of Delphi.

I wanted the milk of human kindness, 

she gave me her brand of kindness,

which I was to lap up

like a cat laps up milk.

I wanted, "There, there my darling."

but as you said and it's true,

"You can't get soup from a stone."

Hope

I helped you clean her feathers in the dream,

matted seaweed, shell, and tar,

I helped you clean her feathers by the sea.

I am the kiwi green of spring, the peony,

the golden marigold, remember me,

I helped you clean her feathers by the sea.

Three Flowers and a Fruit

I go a little crazy

in the daisy

of our love,

Oft kiss ya

in the forsythia

of our love,

Sweet as mint julip

in the tulip

of our love,

And know that ---

I n're take for granted

the pomegrante

of our love,