Surviving and Thriving

A Jewish Monday Morning

By Dena Taub

At 6:30 this morning, the Babylonians

Ruptured

My alarm clock with their knuckled iron.

At 7:03 the Romans

Slashed

A cross into my pillow.

Then, at 8:15 the Crusades

Trumpeted

Jerusalem into my tender ear.

9:05 was marked by the

Expulsion of my duvet;

At 9:14, Heinrich etched a

Swastika onto my toothbrush.

I clocked into work at 10:00.

Not bad

Considering the circumstances.