Juliette Rossant

A Short Trip

It is impractical to think some other way about our story,
to stop mid-way and think:
compromise would not be painful,
to give up the precious for the less-than-desirable and wonder:
what would peace be like?

An hour from here, and I would be you —
say that, and you can choose another language.
Add some salt, and I would be you —
say that, and you can choose another house to cherish.
Weep as we do, and I am you:
wrap your heart around me,
and wrap me in your earth,
and there is peace.

Stopping mid-way from you to me, you feel
along the ground, along the stone walls,
for something you have lost.
It is no longer there.
Stopping mid-way from you to me,
you remember your hunger and thirst
but find no water, no food, no bench in the shade.
Stopping mid-way from you to me
is farther than you have ever traveled.
You look for sign of me.
I will holler loudly and let you know I am coming your way.

(April 24, 2005)


["Poster for New Year 2002" by Israel artist Yossi Lemel.]

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