HIDE
THERE IS NO REASON FOR U TO HIDE
Joseph’s star of David glinting on grey H+M sweater
Cruising West Queen West high noon Sashaying under
faint February sun Jewessflowerchild Ash Wednesday
Substitute 6 points for ashy cross Did you notice the one
on forehead of shrieking mother at Florida massacre?
Google Earth zooms in on Jewgirl still prancing When a
shot rings out +the boys who just jostled me begin to run
In my fantasy I bleed out on the world’s 2nd coolest street
In reality I yellow bellied +afraid hide my Zaida’s star under
my scarf
Not the bold resistance fighter in the woods outside of Warsaw
Big talker But let us revisit this stroll in 2019 Bravery seeping
in through hardening arteries Preparing for the death of the last
survivors
When you will be called upon to place a yellow star on your foreheads
+walk through neo-Nazi streets Daring the world to repeat its brazen
atrocities Heads held high No more an invisible minority
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1969 Bathurst Manor Toronto Jewish Ghetto
My bro + friend (whose parents were resistance fighters
Warsaw Ghetto) walk home from school A car pulls up
+one of the 2 teenaged young men calls out:
Hey you Jews?
Why don’t you like Jews?
Ya I like them
I like them better dead
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Winter 2018
Star of Joseph Marlieb 1891-1973 RIP
songanddancegirl 