by Harriet Wolpoff (San Diego, CA)
A moment of panic
What’s that guy saying?
Can’t understand him
He’s getting closer
He’s pointing at my chest
Is he a hater?
Oh, says he’s Israeli
Whew
He’s offering to help
Put my groceries
In the car
Because
He saw my dogtag
I love him!
Harriet Wolpoff is retired after several years in the New York City public school system and a forty year career in Jewish education in San Diego, winning many awards for ground-breaking programming. She has been studying Israeli poetry with Rachel Korazim for over four years. Harriet is proudest of being a wife, mother, and Bubbe of three grandchildren who inspire many of her poems.
The Jewish Writing Project 
How perfectly you’ve captured the sad fear we seem to walk with these days, as well as the relief and love for the goodness that makes itself present.