Curses and Blessings

By Dvorah Telushkin

Hanging Cranberries

In the Sukkah—

Our Fall holy day,

Cement New York City courtyard,

“You f….cheap bastard…”

A shrill voice

From an anonymous window.

 

Reckless hatred.

“I’m slaving away all day!”

Cracking before the sentence ends.

“F ….you!”

Prickles of knives.

Icicles forming on our skin.

Venom that sucks the

Spirit of celebration.

 

Imagine, then, 7 days later,

Same cement courtyard,

While disassembling

The Sukkah,

A Chopin Sonata

Wafting from a higher window.

Playing on a piano.

Melodious and serene.

Ephemeral melody floating

Between the Bamboo roof.

 

Through twirling cardboard birds.

Royal Blue Stars of David,

Drifting into

And caressing, with unspoken wisdom,

Our hearts.

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