Breakfast at home

Stephen is talking to me about politics as he compares
Headlines from the NYT, CNN and Fox News
Good to know what the other side is saying,
About Speaker Pelosi, not about 11 dead in a synagogue
Or the thousands who turned out to protest..
The NYT does live polls, and I'd rather just do my thing
But I love him so I half listen to his ramblings
I don't think he cares whether I even really listen, as long
As I occasionally look up and wink.

the tyranny of happiness

the american dream is to be happy
and money would be good, too.
let's look at photos of grandchildren and
vacations, settle comfortably in our warm cars
we are all guilty of looking away
i am guilty.
social media posts that call us to awaken
do not receive likes
while the mills of hatred spin their wool
to conceal our eyes

We cannot forget this day

We must never forget
This day, or the others, the ones where Jews ran for cover
The sound of gunshot ringing in their ears.
We must never forget that words do matter
That idle trash talk resonates in hollow hearts
Propelling them towards synagogues, armed with guns,
Towards borders with artillery and bombs.
Yet, we forget, and move on towards the
Next massacre, the next war, as if the next
Is just another day at work, a next that will
Never be for the Jews who ran for cover
But never made it.
We cannot, we must not forget.

I have missed you

I have missed our conversations,
the lessons you have taught me late at night,
when there is quiet and the dog snores in the closet.
where have you been this last month, who stole your thoughts
I waited to hear from you while weddings took place,
papers were published and the world continues to
fall to pieces.
I need you
Please don't leave me again.