To mark Yom HaShoah, we are reproducing here the latest published work of our dear member, poet and author Pessy Krausz. The relevance of this poem to Yom HaShoah is self-explanatory.
CRY, THE BELOVED
Grandfather Berel last
seen thrown off a bus
limping after it at
the Polish-German border
forgot his velvet bag
with Tefillin for daily prayer
the leather box on
his brow with strings attached
He and grandma Malka
– though strung along
to Holocaust's
killing machine – arise from its fiery furnace
embrace
fledgling Kfir and little/big brother Ariel
don't cry on Mama
Shiri's lap snatched from Nir Oz
Yarden, husband,
father October 7th survivor of the Bibas family
my heartstrings with
yours entwine – our history
dictates we not be
taken hostage to a brutal past
but prompts us
bravely to sing a different tune
"Cry, the Beloved" was first published in ESRA Magazine, just before Pesach. You can find the original here.
