Orange Taco Vans

Orange little taco shells and neon backpacks
Four locos in brown paper bags
There’s a crispness with these textures

I feel where it’s rough
I feel where it’s smooth

Like to observe and see the art and the colors

because if I pay attention I see.

That the shirts on the subway men across
The platform line up and form a rainbow.

That there is a green haze complementing the

orange taco vans of this sitting man. 

The white paisleys are dancing around the child

and his father as he looks down lovingly 

I know they aren't really there

But I decide they are so that's that.

I’m elated even though there’s nothing to be
Elated about except for my joy to see
And keep seeing everything around me

And the tears all sit within me couped up
But ready on a whim if they must come
The waves in my new ring are part of
My mural, and sometimes I get stuck
Within the curve. Maybe this is it.

But that’s not how waves work.
I see the sparkles again
Is this Whitman’s inspiration?
Or am I just growing? And seeing?
I can’t answer that for you.

We all saw it. The beatniks too
Leaves and sunsets and pretty things
I’ll keep sharing it with anyone
To salivate and savor the glow of
Fire in youth.

Pearlescent Pink

Sultry quiet. Darkness.

Eyelids blink. Slow pace.

Patience, I wait.

For light.

And immanence.

In still, all is magnified.

Eyelets close, the sea whispers

a wreath of sweet white noise,

while waves within me hum:

a beckoning.

Sliver of glowing silver emerges.

Smitten by blindness

I dare.

I dare to stare.

Then, silver dissipates

Into bleery white.

A shivering pink haze obscures.

Shifting slightly on both sides.

A fiery sphere. White has emerged.

Around it a frame of colors.

A sauntering soiree.

Gentle pink and orange Van Gogh whisps

Circle their way through.

Smitten. Always there.

Never late to its sphere.

In the sky, looking down in peace.

Every day.

Would it want to be a part of us?

Our flitty ant farm?

Hold my hand gently, and

stroll the blocks in Brooklyn?

Perhaps it wants to. But knows better

Than to scorch fingertips,

even for intimacy's sweet reward.

The inner strings tug.

In its descent there is hope.

But when I cast my arm to feel its touch

It winks away.

A dream.

Meander and toil. Grim hopes.

The pink haze still rocks in front.

I can only dream for such closeness.

For all the flittering cards.

The echoes. Hymns and curly cues.

Curdling from the depths

Nuances of reverie.

Can it feel my thoughts?

Communicate through color.

Maybe share with me a little jig of joy?

No answer?

No answer.

Smiling. My cheeks purr with warmth.

Because I am here.

Enveloped by the haze.

The vibrations soothe me.

A smooth simmer within my mind.

I tilt my head up and beam.

Holding the fairy lights in my mind.

Imagining them dancing with one another.

Ending with gracious salutations.

Bleery white and colors all.

I play in the sands.

that lay within mind’s vesicles.

Follow the strings.

Ruminating: A Spoken Word poem

Inner Peace. What a concept. How do
We suppose--wonder-- through religion?
Through connection? Through the
highs and lows? What is the key?

The world doesn’t deal in absolutes
The truths never fall in the same
Pond as the words “always” “never
“Totally” “literally” “basically” because
Those words contemplate a world
That chooses each day by two colors -
I know you’ve heard it- the world is
Gray, uncertain, ambiguous, chaotic,
But I’m here to share a new idea.

My world is no simple gray - hell
Gray is mad depressing but my
World is filled with joy, light, and shine.
I literally dance down the streets
Bouncing on our moonbounce concrete
Blanket because life, whoops don’t say that,
Don’t kill me, about to pull a cliche,
But forgive me, life, well - Life is Divine -

The buildings trees and houses all around us
Are bright when we twist and form them
In our minds, pearlescent mint pyramids,
Smooth lavender transcendent windows,
The shrubs appear majestic - greenery goodness
That moves. One thing about life - whoops!
Another cliche, is that life, - Life goes on -

It constantly moves- even thinking about this second
In time and it has already passed. And we try to hang on
To the second by dividing it into nano-milli-half-quarter- seconds,
Scraping the increments, but let’s be completely honest
This movement is a blessing. And it’s all around us too!

The waves of the East River ripple and move faster than
Any quick run- quick think- quick sit-
The grass waves smoothly in the folds of the wind,
The sun sets and rises, our days continue, the clouds stride along
And none of them are complaining.
Nature’s pretty cool because unlike humans,
nature is cool with change.
Our animalistic selves- fear change, avoid it, try to run away from it
As fast as an Olympic sprint, but all the craze can be subdued.
Just like our heavenly clouds move at a steady pace,
We must study this tranquil movement and think “Yo! I can do that!”
“Channel my inner cloud!” “Channel that blade of grass!” - moving with the wind.
Uncomplaining, seemingly content, because why freak?

It’s just a wave.

Waves pass. They come constantly-
Movement - isn’t peace - it’s hard to navigate - but it’s ephemeral -
And beatable. Peace is letting oneself go, keeping oneself in check,
Considering both odds and ends, but facing fears,
Smirking at them, and understanding oneself.

We must take notes from nature- breath it in-
Soak in the water- and warm ourselves with the rays of the sun-
These yellow, green, blue and white friends of ours are special,
They don;’t speak qualm, boss, fight, annoy, but still
They are living, breathing organisms. What a dichotomy!

Man and nature are meant to be one- it’s been said- I know,
Walden, Thoroeu, even Allen Poe! But bear with me,
A simple youth, discovering herself-
Peering with tiger eyes between the grass,
Laying on a pink donut floatie in the sea,
Sipping from a pineapple shape smoothie,
Climbing trees in her mind-

All these thoughts running circles in the brain like
Pick me! Pick me! Oh! That’s good! But wait!
I could write about that- nah, let’s just stick with
The basic few -- life goes on, yes literally,
Yes basically, but most- in its entirety-
Considering all odds and ends,
Life is DIVINE.

Replenished Spirits

The stone walls ripple rough waves.
Auburn. Amber. Sand. Colors of the earth.
Lavender. Periwinkle. Blue. The sky is
A perfect gradation.
These bus window views are so sweet.

Simple street signs and traffic signals
shine with the eloquent language of the Torah.
I smile as nostalgia whispers to me
my fathers bedtime tales about Rabbi Akiva,
little stories about the sages.

Back in T'koa, the skies were pink and orange
The lands flowed seamlessly. Muslim prayer murmered
Every person spoke with no rush,
feeling every word stroll out of the mouth.

On Friday night, our voices rose up
to Carlebach's Lecha Dodi and filled the air
and the lace mechitza and colored curtains
waved as smoothly as the whisps of hair
falling out from the bright paisley mitpachats.

The simple joy of existing here in Israel and
breathing the holy air sent me soaring into the air,
the wind blowing by bell sleeves gently.
I felt a tiny ballerina twirling within my depths.

Back in Arad, I ran down the cliffs,
the mountains were continuous and empty
extending so far that there wasn't a line to make.
Just a whimsical blue haze
separating the earths from the heavenly skies.

I felt them within me.
Even just a couple seconds was enough.
From up close, the mountains were rocky and dirty.
But from afar, all the mountains stuck together.
I felt them within me.

If we pick apart our memories and look up close,
it's easy to see the negative.
But when we let all the memories sit together,
the big picture is even more awe-some.

These mountains quilt together phases
of changes, transformations, and intentions.
The struggles rocky steps just a part of the bigger quilt.
A puzzle piece that tessellates.

Back in Be'er Sheva, when I held that lovely pigeon,
I could not stop laughing and smiling at the feeling.
The tickling sensation that
this land was changing me. Slowly into
someone I'd never known before.
It brought within me peace.

I get it. I finally understand.
Drum rolls please.
The million dollar question.

Why do people live here despite the fear of terrorism?
How do they raise children in such a Verona?

Because it's worth it. Every single rock in the mountains
makes it worth it. Just the simple joy of existing
and breathing the fresher holy airs.
The people's warmth and best priorities.
Israel brings peace.

As I traveled to T'koa that Friday afternoon
for the first time on a bus alone,
I saw a maze of sandy mountains and green,
and I couldn't help but cry.

This land is too beautiful!
So how could it be so hated by it's neighbors?
I see a place of purity and elevation
while they see a vile place of hate.
It doesn't make much sense to me.
So yeah, there's still that question.

I won't ever forget those mountains
and the light blue film the textures of shadow
that are so uniform in lack of formity.
Laughing and dancing endlessly
these campers didn't realize that
when they opened my heart,
they filled my spirit too.

The drawings held a certain essence.
A dreamer letting her dreams run free.
Wanderlusting on a golden tapestry
of effervescent joy.

I see everything fit together.
Pumping fists in the air with campers.
Earbuds singing stories in my ears.
Conversations about the deeper meanings.

The spirits all connect.

You know what the best part is?
Is that even though the experience is over,
I am still here. And these changes are too.
Hashem will give out his tests.
And this new girl will take them on.
With her new replenished spirit.

Iridescence

Do you ever
See broccoli florets and
wonder how it would feel
to take a couple steps on
tens of florets. A bed of green.

Just a step on the green and
it would curl around your toes
feel soft underneath your soles
your chin would rise and see endless lights
hanging perfect glowing sphericals

You'd feel the heat from above
and the haze would bring you
higher. Lifting something deep within
That part of you where words won't do

Do you ever
see little cups of jello in the store
and wish they were pools
so big enough to dive into. Immerse
and throw the red bits in the air.

Grab a friend and jump
Feel the texture on your back
the lovely jelly envelope
the blue and red confettis
as they dance and smile in the air

Do you ever
run down to the edge of the bridge
See the water and feel it glisten
and can't help beam
at such final truth. Serenity.

The sparkles harden and become
Diamonds. Diamonds! Even bigger than Lucy's!
Just big enough for you to step on
Your body lifts and flies to them.
Weightless floating Across the sea
From one end to the other.

The cold and breezy winds
wash over and pet your skin
and the glowing sphericals remain.
Softly and persistently. With
No intent but to share their peace.

Indeed, above the wind...
Why NOT climb the trees?
Tune and chat with the birds
Why NOT climb the clouds?
Make way up the luscious fluff.
Why NOT reach and touch the diamonds?

When the windows of the car roll down
and our hands go up, the wind
lifts our bodies up and the falsettos
Sound so sweetly and symphoniuously.

Words animate on
our favorite book pages.
Gatsby, Torless, Dickinson
 dance together in a circle
sharing their emotions past and above time.

All the salty seas turn sweet.
Lucy's diamonds Are free
to gather in our pockets to cherish.
Everyone will have a collection for keeping.

We must know how we are free
 to speak the unspoken.
Move the unmovable.
Fix the unfixable and
dream the unimagined.

The iridescence within us
Let it run widely as we bounce
our hair and twirl to the falsettos
of the words and sounds and feelings.

The lines between the three.
The cold breeze petting.
The birds chirping lovely tunes.
The part of you that can't explain.
Would become one with
Such iridescence.

Uber Driver Comforts

This whole thing.
Change.
Do people change?
I like to think I've changed.

But look where I am now.
Back where I was.
How many times have I been here?
too many to count.
This familiar feeling of melancholy.

How do you explain to someone
that you are a just a sad person
who also sometime enjoys being happy?

How do you explain to someone
that you want to be that person who makes a difference?
Not just one who exits in life passively
Because what's the point of passive living anyway?

If you can't better others
or yourself, than who are you to better at all?
Isn't the purpose of life to be a good person?

Honestly.
G-d.
Be. Honest.
Not all people are good people.
Some are good. But some aren't.

Usually the bad don't matter.
Except for tonight.
But once the melancholy hits, it's over.
Your already done with it, but its too late. It follows.

Dont dwell Don't dwell, said the art professor
but what does she know?
About trying to heal a broken heart?
They've hurt you. It's too late.
You've become useless.

Emotions. You can't help them.
But they are prisoners.
They govern how you act.

Dennis prager brings up a good point
That behavior is more important.
But what about those nights?
when the alcohol takes over.

And all you can do
is cry and cry and cry
What do you do
God please, tell me.

What do I DO,
When the cab driver
begs me to stop crying
begs me to stop feeling a way
Because im "beautiful"
when looks are clearly irrelevant here
flattery misplaced
he turns to me
don't cry.
your beautiful.

Tomorrow is a new day
Is it a new day?
With that logic
Tomorrow is just a cover up
A makeup for what's real.

Don't exit, do exist.
Can I tell you something?
nobody gives a crap.
Nobody fuckin' cares who I am
They don't care how I feel
And they don't care why.

But you know what makes me stronger
That my feelings are something too
And that I know that where there are lows.
There are highs too.
And I trust that G-d has those highs
In my future
But still,
Sometimes you just can't help
Being sad

For the sake of being sad

Does anybody get me?

I don't care

I just want to share

In case somebody might.

Life on the Cloud

My feet are on the soft surface.
As each foot makes another step,
the soft surface falls a bit sinking
sinking and making a hole.
It's snow. Wait no, it's a cloud.

I keep taking steps, through the white
the wind is crisp, fresh and clean
Another hole. It's uncertain what areas
Of the cloud are thick enough to hold,
But still, that's all part of the game.

The game? You ask, simply, but of course,
It's just the way things go.
At least on the clouds. One step. Safe
Two step. Fall. Three step. Safe. Four step. Safe.

Suddenly both feet fall, and I start falling,
Sinking faster through the wind,
The wind slapping, ouch! Wait no,
Was that an ace of spades?

Cards! But this is no drinking game,
Cacophonous, the cards are swirling
All around me, the noise,
Of paper at odds with the wind.

I'm taken back to the arena. Snap.
It's your usual fencing duel. Except

This time, I'm holding a set of cards.
It's a pretty good set, I'm proud of them.
I'm ready to enter.

No. Wait. I know him. Is this a joke?
The eyes. His smile. It's definitely him.
It won't phase me. It's fencing. This is my thing. Right?
But he doesn't have cards. What's going on?

That's okay this should be easier
But he just stands there. Arms crossed.
With that stupid smirk. Gently, smoothly,
walks over to me and my cards and pulls.

One of them. Trying to lick back the paper
With his fingers to see the precious numbers.
But he fails. The numbers are mine.
What is with that dumb smile?

But he doesn't stop. Hey Rebecca,
Are you sure I can't just take a peak?
Sorry. No. These are my cards. I'm tired
of your games. It's obvious.

These are my cards. Why does he want them?
If he really wanted them, he wouldn't pull.
And just like that:
as always, a realization:

He only pulls because he still cares.
The pushing, pulling, asking, probing
All with that stupid stupid smirk,
Only mean that behind the scruff and smile
Is just a petty guilty little boy.

Maybe the girl, who scribbled words
In her notebook, through tearing eyes,
Mumble Jumble, Vertigo, Yellow Words.
All the woes, left her all together, empty.

You would think. But now, she's published.
The words that melted the paper with her tears will
warm others within. Exhale. They do say
that the best art comes from pain.

Sometimes I wonder why we all think that
life is supposed to be good. It's just not.
That's the game. The obstacles are just opportunities.
Reminders of strength.

So he smirks.
So he pulls.
It's just chatter now.

This time, I'll hold my cards tight.
His stupid smirk. His glasses.
He still stands there, watching me try. Laughing.
His face melts. I look again. Blink.

But he's no longer there.
I'm on the cloud again.
What's the point of living in reality
when we can live in a dream?


I guess that's just my take on it.