Dear God: I See the Dead in Mirrors

 

last summer, the slant of sun scorching the sky

an orthodox jewish man

i can’t say his name

stabs six people at jerusalem pride parade

 

his face an echo of my fourth grade teacher

mouth hidden behind a gnarled beard but

i knew he smiled when his eyes crinkled like wax paper

he’d give me jelly beans, explosions of color on my tongue

 

this man

i can’t say his name

but his eyes

 

sang lullabies that live buried in my memories

footprints stain the stone lined streets where I grew up

the same prayers spilled from his lips

poised around the white-lace tablecloth

raising a silver cup

wine slipping down the rim staining the tablecloth red

  l’chaim

l’chaim

    to life

god,

 

how could he?

 

tonight, the tilt of the moon cradling clouds

my flag drips red again

and i remember

how strange bodies look, clogging concrete

hope coaxes moths to a street light, i

don’t want to die, i

pray for the first time in months, i

watch galaxies crumble in the black behind my eyes

 

god,

 

how could you?

 

This poem is about: 
Me
My community
Our world
Poetry Terms Demonstrated: 

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