Don Krieger: October 30, 2018

Today, October 30, 2018,
their lives were celebrated,
their bodies buried,
three of eleven murdered Jews

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Discovery

I mainly think about
what no one knows,
nor I either,

how the brain works,
is God truly cruel,
why what I know as truth

you know as lie,
why you hate me
and I you.

Audio: http://tinyurl.com/y92lue5q

***

Passover Prayer

Once again
your death angel turned away
left us whole, your chosen,
terrorized and prayerful for the horror
next time.

You command: Remember!
Who can forget
holiday and self denial,
worship and tyranny,
the lies of faith,
the first born butchered,
your people’s grace?

Two we know defied you,
but how many have you really heard?
Abraham spoke up for the righteous,
Jesus for the sinful cheat,
but Moses, the murderer, your darling,
spoke only for your vicious caprice.

Am I true, kind, good?
I judge myself without mercy.
But the relentless cycle of slavery and murder
we do in your image
is humble before your cruel glory.

If you truly exist and hear, then hear this:
by my poor standards, you are unfit.
If I held your might, almighty God,
in that instant I would erase you
and your memory
from all that is.

If you truly exist and care,
then as you did Korach,
open the earth and destroy me.
For though I claim nothing over Aaron or Moses.
I claim goodness over you.

Audio: http://tinyurl.com/y9bsp25b

Copyright 2018 Don Krieger

These poems were first published in Tuck. Included in Vox Populi by permission of the author.

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On Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, 11 people were killed inside the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Six others were injured. The deceased included two brothers and a husband and wife. The victims ranged in age from 54 to 97.

They are:

• Joyce Fienberg, 75
• Richard Gottfried, 65
• Rose Mallinger, 97
• Jerry Rabinowitz, 66
• brothers Cecil Rosenthal, 59 and David Rosenthal, 54
• married couple Bernice Simon, 84 and Sylvan Simon, 86
• Daniel Stein, 71
• Melvin Wax, 88
• and Irving Younger, 69

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Photo: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette