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Forever Shiva
My mother’s mood was for talking and mine, for listening:
stories of childhood on Chicago’s old West Side, reiterative:
handsome adored brother with hands strong and soft
dexterous on piano keys as on a beloved’s body.
Stories of childhood on Chicago’s old West Side, reiterative:
two siblings with two cousins tramping as children may
through poison ivy woods in Beverly Shores
handsome, adored brother with hands strong and soft
dead in days from infection spread with arpeggio speed
a cut jugular vein couldn’t stop the poison.
Dexterous on piano keys as on a beloved’s body
her fingers play in Nakey’s name, eyes wet as if yesterday was the day
for a sister of thirteen keeping her forever shiva.
Dayenu
My old hands hold the cup for collection of chametz
as the baby chooses to collect by eating the pieces
They show in tandem with thin-skinned strong arms
sometimes surrendering to long-sleeved disguise.
But never mind, these long sleeves are only clothing
for the girl who loves the dawn, the glow on trees
from invisible eastern sun rising behind the roof,
forever wonder at being alive in the mess or beauty
especially now in the terror of it all ending
because never will be too soon.
_______
Carol Coven Grannick is a poet and children’s author whose Sydney Taylor Honorable Mention manuscript debuted as a novel in verse in 2020 (Regal House Publishing). Her Jewish fiction and award-winning poetry has appeared in Highlights, The Book Meshugganahs, MIZMOR Anthology, NI+, Jewish Writing Project, Otherwise Engaged, and her secular work appears in numerous print and online lit mags.
Carol, very meaningful poem. Your writing always evokes powerful feelings and valuable images. Thank you , Irene