With the Gazans
Palestinians in short do not deserve anything like a narrative or collective actuality, and so they must be transmuted and dissolved into essentially negative images. —Edward Said, From Oslo to Iraq and the Road Map:…
Category: No Time for Poetry but Exactly What Is
Numbers
for Hedy 45 phone calls on 8.15 82 guests at birthday party 1948 arrival in USA 5 attempts to reach people in Gaza 2 grand-daughters 20+ years working fair housing 1982 wake-up call 2 parents…
Presence
I had a shrine for a while A photo collage of the greatest hits of your life I meditated on it on those bright desolate winter days Your effervescence somehow emanating from the black and…
Soul’s Soundtrack
Before coming to tonight’s writing class I listened to a song from my youth George Harrison late 1970 My Sweet Lord I think I could go far in mettā If I allowed that song to penetrate…
Boeing/Gaza (“It’s Not Personal; It’s Strictly Business”)
The Boeing Company must have been thrilled this past month Its warplanes performing so expertly in front of the world And Boeing is proud of its “products” and its customers Conflicts, massacres, wars They’re all…
Stating the Obvious
for Savannah Thich Nhat Hanh’s poem “The Good News” is good news Universal Design is good news Sunday potlucks are good news Song lyrics dedicated to a friend are good news Vigiling for Palestine is…
Note to a Friend on the Back of Allen Ginsberg’s Poem, Death and Fame
This poem is pure Allen, Lovable and vain Allen to the end You gotta love him– Evidently, lots of men did Rereading this poem Lights my fire “He taught me how to meditate, now I’m…
Dear _____________________
Dear Netanyahu, Thank you. You’ve reminded me of my capacity to experience immense rage. Candidly, Mark Chmiel Dear Frenchwell, Thank you for passing on the wisdom and skill of your Israeli genius-teacher. You practice right…
Free Palestine
Over the weekend (Scores of Palestinians being killed) The pro basketball player tweeted Free Palestine The president of the Zionist Organization of America stated “Anyone who uses the phrase ‘Free Palestine’ is either ignorant of…
Metta Aspiration by Penny Smith & Mark Chmiel
Metta upon waking up in the morning Metta upon waking up in snaked snarky traffic jam Metta toward the beloved Metta toward the janitor Metta for those sitting in jail cells Metta for your boss…