Poem: Rabbi Ishmael ben Elisha I

(in which he fails to reverse the decree)

We thought poverty would protect us

but it did not.

We thought suffering would weaken us

but it did not.

When the golden eagle sat on our temple,

we did not value gold. 

When the taxes were heavy

we had nothing to give.

When our king killed his wife,

his children,

there was nothing it pained us

to leave.

From “Striking Surface,” Ashland Poetry Press

Jason Schneiderman is the author of the books “Sublimation Point” and “Striking Surface.” He is an assistant professor of English at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY.