CHILHOOD IMPRESSIONS

CHILHOOD IMPRESSIONS

My childhood impressions

Are found in my mind

In pictures of things

like the calm Mediterranean

Brightness

Temperament

Recollections

Outer affliction of ones religion

Defenseless people

Modesty and integrity

Outnumbered by

Musulmans and Catholics

Our only crime, to be Jews

And nothing else

we had been push

Force converted

Burned to the stake

Threatened to be push to the sea

Pogroms to the east of Europe

Uprising to the Middle East

Persecuted

Although through all this we

Had peace in our hearts and happy times

That was what made us forget

And brush with the next

Persecution

Assimilation

I say NO

One must stay and learn

Understand personally

The importance

Of Unity

Sense of community

Traditions to pass on

Not to intermarry

Keep the gift of our laws

We had been given

Never forget

For peace is you and

Every where we go

To put in your mind

Better yet engrave in your mind

We are Jews,

Practicing non practicing