…you must designate cities for yourselves that will be cities of refuge for you: a murderer who killed a person unintentionally must flee there. ~ Numbers 35:11
Let my city be a refuge
for the innocent at heart.
Let their apology for
unintended actions be enough.
Let us take into consideration
the circumstances.
Let us defend the people
who’ve sought refuge
from the people who
wear masks and carry guns.
Let us return the coldness of ice
with the coldness of ice.
Let us freeze it into immobility.
Let crossing rivers not be a crime.
Let children and their parents not be
criminal for existing without papers.
Let walls only exist to
keep out the floods.
Let them always have
doors and windows.
Let them be unlocked. Let my city
be a refuge for anyone
who needs space and breath and air.
I designate this for every soul.
Rick Lupert, a poet, songleader and graphic designer, is the author of 29 books including “God Wrestler: A Poem for Every Torah Portion.” Visit him at www.JewishPoetry.net
