Processing in Israel Now Through Poetry
Poems on the Israel-Iran Conflict
We all process our emotions in different ways. These three authors found solace in poetry.
Merav Levkowitz
Snippets from an Israeli moms’ group chat
I’m sleeping with a bra on / what’s safer: the mamad (safe room) or shelter? / alert! / loud booms / did you hear that? / they’re constantly eating - feels like I’m running a dining hall here / alert! / oh it’s from Yemen? / do you think I can shower now? / alert! / can you believe our soldiers did that?! so badass! / is this the one where we go down or wait for siren? / the windows shattered / I almost peed myself / alert! / our neighbors brought cookies to the shelter / water / watermelon / a fridge / a Wi-Fi router / our shelter is disgusting / alert! / 10 minutes now / there are no eggs at any supermarket nearby / they’re climbing up the walls / I’m washing my hair, wish me luck / the wedding was canceled / siren! / here, too / here, too / not here we’re trying to get on a flight from Athens / we’re going down / no, not yet / if my kids are home for one more day, I swear to god… / I don’t see how this ends / booms / so loud! / I haven’t eaten in 3 days / I haven’t stopped eating in 3 days / I can’t believe I’m raising kids here / alert! / I’m so sad about their kindergarten graduation / it sounds like the planes are literally landing on our balcony / sounds like aliens landing / alert! / I just hid in the bathroom and cried / he’s in Gaza, remember that one? / cigarettes are definitely an essential item / is that underground garage reinforced? / we’re going to my parents’ / they’re driving me crazy but at least they have a safe room / siren! / country of zombies / I can’t fall asleep / we set up mattresses for the kids in the shelters / they’re on their 24th hour of screen time / and don’t even get me started on all the candy… / the 6th meal of the day is served / what about the hostages? / we can leave the shelter now / you’re not a bad mom / if only women ran the world…
Tara Zafft
Memorandum on How to Parent a Child During a War
My daughter asks how I am. It is 6:17am
and she sees my eyes. Scratchy-red. I
pour myself my third cup of coffee. With
honey. I need sweetness today. And before
I say a thing, I think of the memorandum
my friend in Jerusalem sent yesterday
when I ask her, what about the kids, and
she sends a memorandum, some version
of don’t lie but try to hide the details, cuddle
and hug and try to find—normal. But
nothing about this is normal. Refugee, I hear
my husband say on the phone to a friend,
a word I can’t say the day we were meant to fly
home. Home. Mom? Now she is worried
and I tell her I’m tired, up all night, and yes
her brother is okay but no my friend has no
home. Home. And she knows. My child
who is no longer a child, who gives up
her bed. A place to sleep. At least we have
a place to sleep. And your friend? And I
say all she wants is a toothbrush. And
we laugh. And we cry. And I wonder if
this is the adult-child version of the memorandum
on how to parent a child during war.
Marcie Maxfield
I’m beginning to have a deeper understanding of the
phrase “beside myself.” I sit with that feeling a lot now. There’s
me and my day-to-day. I take my French bulldog, Rue Bader
Girl, to the dog park, walk the nature preserve, go to the gym,
shop for groceries, etc. Then beside myself, sits me as a Jew,
in absolute horror as events unfold.
Please share your thoughts—we want to hear what you have to say. Are you in Israel? Are you in America, feeling helpless as you watch from afar?
Please submit your original work to submissionsOBJN@zibbymedia.com for consideration. It’s more important than ever to comfort each other and express our emotions through the written word.