Shalom Freedman Poems

I TRIED TO REMEMBER THE SADNESS OF ALL THE POEMS I HAD NOT WRITTEN

I tried to remember the sadness
Of all the poems
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ALL THE POEMS IN THE WORLD MEAN NOTHING TO ME

All the poems in the world mean nothing to me
Beside the life of loved ones-
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We want a poem of Peace we cannot write
Because Reality does not let us
Because too much Hatred and Violence
Because our enemies do not let us-
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I am quiet in gratitude to God
Saved again
Near tears in tears
Grateful to God
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I just wait
The habit of years
The poem forms itself
The words come
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WORDS OF THE MORNING/ OF THE DISTANT LONGING

Words of the morning
Of the distant longing
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Why am I so happy today?
Because there is no war
And my son is alive
And so many other sons and fathers and husbands and brothers
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No one can explain why Beauty dies
Why those we love so much must leave this world
No one can help us understand
Why what we most care about
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One day the earth will open up
And take me also
As it has taken so many others I love

Dear Brother
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G-d has given me this blessing of this day
Everywhere I look I see Beauty
The innumerable shades of green
The morning light makes
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