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 