by Lesléa Newman (Massachusetts)
October 30, 2023
“I’m back to counting noses,” says my friend
who needless to say is Jewish. As needless to say
am I. We bend our dark heads together
across the narrow table, leave our coffee
to grow cold and speak in hushed voices
which needless to say is so unlike us
usually so out, loud, and proud
which needless to say is now totally
out of the question in this New England café
as we quietly question ourselves:
Should we unclasp the Jewish stars around our necks?
Yank the mezuzahs off our doorposts?
Straighten our hair?
Change our names?
Ask friends if they would hide us?
Are we overacting?
Are we underreacting?
How did our ancestors know when it was time to leave?
Is it time to leave?
Needless to say, there is nowhere to go.
Lesléa Newman has created 85 books for readers of all ages including the dual memoir-in-verse, I Carry My Mother and I Wish My Father and the children’s books, Gittel’s Journey: An Ellis Island Story, The Babka Sisters and Ketzel the Cat Who Composed. Her literary prizes include two National Jewish Book Awards and the Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work Award. Her newest book, Always Matt: A Tribute to Matthew Shepard, a fully illustrated book-length poem celebrating the life and legacy of Matthew Shepard, has just been published. For more information about Lesléa, visit her website: www.lesleanewman.com .
The Jewish Writing Project 
Good poem. I think I met you at Spalding MFA program. Nice to find your work here.
Love your use of the casual phrase with the non-casual and penetrating questions so many of us have rushing through our brains and bodies. One question my brain added: should I go to shul? Or is it too dangerous? Preciousness of life and a granddaughter make me wonder…
Needless to say, but important to say! This poem says it so casually, so simply, so powerfully— so well
Needless to say, important to say! This poem says it so simply, so strongly, so well
Thank you for this beautiful poem. Needless to say, our hearts are broken.
Deeply felt questions.
But there is a place to go: Israel.
Leslia thank you for sharing vulnerability, insights, fear, and deep caring. I am with you. Much love. Joanne
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