in a moment

My current mode is temporary.
Roller coasting (which I’ve never liked)
waiting
for it to be fast, exciting, terrifying
for being thrown for loops
and right-side-ups again.

The sooner my car tips off the edge,
Od m’at I fly
Leaving behind those with whom I’ve launched, laughed,
hands held
From whom I’ve learned
I can’t calculate the hows of my goodbyes
or whens or ifs?
Who knows how tight our cars are bound
once the ride starts up again?

Damn, would you take a look at the view from up here?

Od m’at, the camera flashes
We all, forever grinning in a
snap
worth a million words and the wait.

the tree lighting gripe, or: strugs on mugs

I just got to Tree Lighting and Lordy
How is the line this long at 5:40?
Yet instead of submitting to impatience and strife
I talk to first years about “A Year in the Life.”

6:10, I’m waiting, more tempted to cheat
And cut the line, joining randos I’ll meet.
I won’t. But will I get a shirt? Who knows
If I’ll regain feeling in all of my toes?

It’s 6:30 and in the hella cold
The first years around me make me feel old
I skip ahead upon the text of my friend
Who is further than I from the line’s end

Now they’re out of shirts, but fear not!
They’ve still got mugs and hot–
Kidding, no chocolate, but if I wait there’s a chance
There’ll be something left by the time I advance.

6:50! Okay! They check my ID!!
“I *never* get swag,” I say triumphantly.
I walk up to the table and right then they shout,
“If you’re waiting for shirts or mugs, we’re out!”

no fear

Viha’ikar lo lefached klal
Never ever be afraid
Quell it
Block out what is said
What is ranted, what is blurted
Displayed
On the scrolling, “breaking” news.

Viha’ikar lo lifached
Why worry?
Calm down. Don’t you know
That the past is past and the future is passed?
RELAX!

Vihai’kar lo
Don’t push it.
Shove it down and remember it’ll be okay instead
Though maybe now it’s not okay
You may as well look straight ahead

Vi’haikar
It’s narrow, very narrow,
Hugely narrow, tzar me’od.

And though straight ahead bodes a clown in a crown,
You will cross. Trust me,
Just keep your eyes open and
Don’t
Look down. Just don’t look down.