The poems in this post are part of a special section, curated by Ori Z Soltes and Robert Bettmann, The Jewish Experience.

The Aftermath
By Rachel Eichler Maron

I lock
my-self inside
shutters down
doors bolted

Stunted
breathe tries
to get oxygen
expand out

Surrounded
enclosed
isolated
shaking

Never again
To be hunted
Down
to be singled
Out
Never again
or so
I thought

Two Psalms, of mine
By Rachel Eichler Maron

The LORD is my rock,
That I bang my head against
and my fortress,
that I feel crumble around me
and my deliverer
who lost my address
my LORD, my rock,
in Him I take refuge,
where?
my shield,
that blocks out the sun
and my horn of salvation,
please blow
my high tower
that I can’t seem to climb
Praised, I cry,
many tears of despair
is the LORD,
alive
and I am saved
let’s hope
from mine enemies (18:3-4)

My soul also
is very frightened,
and Thou,
O LORD,
How long? (6:4)
will terror and distrust
dominate
How long?
will the average human
suffer
How long?
will painful holes
continue to be borne
into families
How long?
will dread and division
reign
Too long
my soul
is very
frightened
O LORD

Psalms quoted from https://mechon-mamre.org/copy.htm

Rachel Eichler Maron lives in Jerusalem and has raised four children with her Israeli husband of almost 30 years. She has been writing poetry since the age of fourteen and is presently working on her memoirs. Rachel is a Doctor of Optometry who enjoys teaching and working in her private practice.

Featured image in this post: Part & Whole – Old Window Shutter (1) (7813315226), zeevveez, Jerusalem, Israel, creative commons via wikimedia commons.