Hear
“I am my prayer.”
Va’ani Tefilati
my grandfather
faced the open window
and looked beyond
his street, past the boys
playing stickball,
past the girls jumping rope
miming each action
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Turn around,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Touch the ground
past the sounds of women
playing mahjong,
calling out their tiles
Dragons, Flowers, Seasons,
the Four Winds
in a staccato rendition
Past the Snow Cone man
selling flavored shaved ice
My grandfather David davens
and ancient prayers
echo across time
I listen—
hear my lineage
and pray
