Penguin 2006
daydreaming w/ Bob Arnold
If I must die,
you must live
to tell my story
to sell my things
to buy a piece of cloth
and some strings,
(make it white with a long tail)
so that a child, somewhere in Gaza
while looking heaven in the eye
awaiting his dad who left in a blaze —
and bid no one farewell
not even to his flesh
not even to himself —
sees the kite, my kite you made, flying up above,
and thinks for a moment an angel is there
bringing back love.
If I must die
let it bring hope,
let it be a story.
OR Books, 2024
Tikkun
The horror
the calamity
the disgrace,
the rubble of folly
and religion's stupidities,
the dimness of vision
and violence of despair
won't be repaired by an officer,
a bomb or a plane,
and not by still more blood.
Only wisdom of the heart could mend it
only the surgeon, the doctor,
the good teacher, the teachers
the medic — an Arab, a Jew —
only the quiet traveler
riding a bicycle,
someone carrying a sandwich
and walking along a street,
someone opening their eyes,
someone who speaks with compassion,
someone listening
someone learning and wise
someone waiting and thinking
someone guiding someone
down a path of kindness, affection,
the painter, the poet,
disciples of peace —
only the gardeners of peace.
October 10, 2023
_________________________________
Aharon Shabtai
Requiem
translated by Peter Cole
New Directions, 2025
Kong Nay teaching the chapei dang veng, a long-necked lute, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2003.Credit...
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~ Update ~
BTW, Birthday wishes for Bob with all love, Sweetheart!
| Stone work by Bob Arnold, Summer Flowers 2025 |