Poetry

GTW photo

By

Don Krieger

Today, October 30, 2018,

their lives were celebrated,

their bodies buried,

three of eleven murdered Jews.

Discovery

I mainly think about

what no one knows,

nor I either,

how the brain works,

is God truly cruel,

why what I know as truth

you know as lie,

why you hate me

and I you.

Passover Prayer

Once again

your death angel turned away

left us whole, your chosen,

terrorized and prayerful for the horror

next time.

You command: Remember!

Who can forget

holiday and self denial,

worship and tyranny,

the lies of faith,

the first born butchered,

your people’s grace?

Two we know defied you,

but how many have you really heard?

Abraham spoke up for the righteous,

Jesus for the sinful cheat,

but Moses, the murderer, your darling,

spoke only for your vicious caprice.

Am I true, kind, good?

I judge myself without mercy.

But the relentless cycle of slavery and murder

we do in your image

is humble before your cruel glory.

If you truly exist and hear, then hear this:

by my poor standards, you are unfit.

If I held your might, almighty God,

in that instant I would erase you

and your memory

from all that is.

If you truly exist and care,

then as you did Korach,

open the earth and destroy me.

For though I claim nothing over Aaron or Moses.

I claim goodness over you.

Don Krieger

I have built satellites, worked in the operating room, been in a cult, …

I earn my living as part of a group which is trying to understand and treat head injury.

In my poetry and short blog pieces, I want to express ideas with unambiguous clarity and intensity.

I willingly sacrifice rhyme and meter, art, cleverness, elegance, and beauty for these.