By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO – In my mail came a book of poetry for review, unbidden, a gift from its author, a stranger to me. Titled Above History, Behind Time, it contained the thoughts of Nathan Carliner Goldman, PhD, who is a professor of government at the College of the Mainland in Texas City, Texas.
The book includes 37 poems, most of them having previously appeared in one or another Jewish publication. The slim volume is divided into three sections: The Holocaust; Celebrations and Contemplations; and Israel. Following is one short poem from each section, chosen to give you the flavor of this praiseworthy collection, available via Amazon.
I WANT TO HATE
The four walls breathe it
I want to hate
But I cannot.
I want to loathe the blond Christian–
Father of Nazis,
Condoners of gas chambers.
I want to hate them
For the tears of Rachel
And the martyrdom of Hannah —
I want to hate
As I hide here in this attic.
I suffocate in the attic.
The sirens nightmare my sleep.
The knock at the door
Fears me into paralysis.
I need to hate – to blame.
I want to hate
But I cannot.
A blond Christian hides me here;
Risks his life —
In the name of his religion —
To protect
And feed and care for me
So, I cannot hate —
Though outside heat is all around
And the four walls breathe it.
(Previously published by The Jewish Spectator)
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YOU AND I
You are a Jew;
I am a Jew.
How should I react —
When our hands touch,
Our eyes meet?
Are you my sister
Or my lover?
My brother or
My opponent?
I am a Jews; you are a Jew.
How should I react
When life has thrown
The two of us
Into the same arena?
Are you my adversary
Or my comrade,
My friend or my rival?
I am a Jew, you are a Jew.
How will we face
The world outside?
Together? Or apart?
THE BIRTHRIGHT
What good are biblical borders
If we lose our biblical birthright?
What good is military conquest
if there is no security —
For our person or our soul?
What good is victory
Without peace?
And right without righteousness?
We are not like the other nations,
Why should we try to be?
*
Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com Comments intended for publication in the space below must be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/ her city and state of residence (city and country for those outside the U.S.)