Leaving Jerusalem

I leave a part of me

In Jerusalem stone

In the crevice and cracks

Where old fades to new

And quiet alleyways

turn

Into buzzing market song

I leave a part of me

carved out

hungry

Thirsty for water that quenches

a deeper thirst

I tasted

but one drop

Here, it lingers

on the tip of my tongue

Reminding me

that a well of knowledge

Awaits me

There

There

Where the cool evening air

warms something inside

Where dusk disappears mountains

Unveiling layers and rows

of man-made lights

With natural glows

Where tucked away homes

alive with maariv chants

Become whispers

Drowned out

by the blaring

Call to Prayer

I almost don’t mind

The bitter herb of culture clash

The Arab boy sprinting by

His shirt that reads: “Free Palestine”

The Kotel woman who shouts

Giveret!

Your skirt is too short

Aha

I see

My legs offend the walls

But the m16

Rests gracefully

against the resilient

Jerusalem stone

Taken in the Nachlaot residential neighborhood in Jerusalem