Concrete Poem

December 7, 2004

After the still small voice
a noise
And after the noise,
a still small voice.
And after it, a noise.
And after it, a still small voice
And after the still small voice,
a noise.
Discard the rest.

-Yehuda Amichai
The day before Chanukah
in a breath between classes
I seek refuge in the library
and find fragments of Amichai
spread throughout the New Republic

The bell rings and I run to class
still holding the magazine
as I referee kids to seats
take attendance, open a bible
Today's lesson: Jewish Kings

I hear only Amichai
a small still voice
louder than mine, around the room
Quietly, I ask a girl to copy him down
in this diary, to keep

- Neil Fleischmann