1. Wind
Today Jenin flooded, pond turned sea,
dissolved horizon, and children made a boat of foam and twine,
let wind catch sail and chart toward a place that would accept
a child of no passport
2. Earth
Children of the Jordan Valley crowned me in poppies,
braceleted me in catkins and anemone blooms, made me
double necklaces of daisies. How the desert blossoms.
How children in grief open the way nature
lifts petals to light, again and again and again
never ceasing to amaze bees and earth
3. Fire
Settlers set fire to the olive trees again,
their seasonal protest, their terror
among the peace bows.
Again and again they go after the trees,
cut night limbs, saw trunks
catch in the blaze
Paula Kaufman is a West Virginia writer who can sometimes be found traveling around the world, teaching and learning. She likes running, sweets and trying to stay out of trouble. Her work can be found in Quail Bell Magazine, Heartwood and Brittle Star.
