Gershon Wolf Poet Personification

I Am the Voice of Your Conscience

  
     I am the voice of your conscience
       You would bury my memory
     Erase me from your history books
       But I refuse to go away, I refuse to die 

     Here I am today, thousands of years after 
       you would have buried me in Modi’in… 
     in Jerusalem… at the tip of Mohammed’s sword… 
       in Torquemada’s Spain… in Luther's ‘Reformation’

     In your swarming Eastern and Western European ghettos
       in Czarist Russia, in Stalin’s USSR, in Hitler’s Third Reich
     in Poland, Lithuania, Egypt, Syria Lebanon, in ‘Palestine’ too… 
       Yet I, the Jew, voice of your conscience, stand my ground

     To remind you that my unshakeable love of God and my People Israel
       is stronger than your visceral hatred of my redoubtable faith...
     For 'Mother Russia,’ 'Nationalist China,’ 'America the Free’ will go the way 
       of Ancient Greece and Babylon ~ but I shall still be around…

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CayCay Godwin June 9, 2025 at 6:20 PM I just read this to My Tim, knowing he would 'feel' it. Reading it aloud, with dramatic emotional conviction in my voice gave your words even MORE power than when I read them silently. Do you have a Rabbi, congregation (don't know if that word is applicable) you could share this powerful write with? I know it would be embraced. CayCay (faving because it's your serious/outraged/somber side on paper) Gershon Wolf June 9, 2025 at 8:39 PM Thanks for the idea, CayCay. Not a Rabbi, not a congregation, although I have those --- but my last place of residence in Israel, where my heart is: Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu is its name. They've published a number of my stories about their legendary founding members, whom I was privileged to work and live with, years after its founding... Thanks again. ~ Gershon

CayCay Godwin June 9, 2025 at 5:54 PM Why doesn't it stop for centuries sake? Take all issues, all sides and it comes down to naught but stupid shameful behaviors. This topic has really been on your mind/heart lately. Putting myself in your shoes, if I were part of such a large, historical group of people, I would have a heavy heart from the first day I could read compound words. btw, have we divorced? I didn't get papers? Still love you (smile) .. CayCay Gershon Wolf June 9, 2025 at 6:25 PM The Bill (of Divorcement) is in the mail, my dear. The only condition which we both must agree to is to continue to read and comment on each other's poetry. lol. ~ Now looking for my umpteenth wife, gw

Kim Rodrigues June 9, 2025 at 4:59 PM Oh I hate to see this hatred! It is always on repeat. Gershon Wolf June 9, 2025 at 9:08 PM We live, but we don't learn. Thanks for your support, Kim.

sara Etgen-Baker June 9, 2025 at 2:02 PM I appreciate your strength and affirmation Gershon Wolf June 9, 2025 at 9:08 PM --- And I, your encouragement and kind words, Yellow Rose. ~ gw

John Lawless June 9, 2025 at 12:38 PM a very uncomfortable history lesson Gershon...and still it seems "they cannot let your people go" Gershon Wolf June 9, 2025 at 9:10 PM Spot-on, John... I am the one who put the 'worm' in 'squirm.' ~ Gershon

Oliver Mckeithan June 9, 2025 at 1:21 AM Good one Gershon and well said. Gershon Wolf June 9, 2025 at 9:11 PM Oliver, may we know REAL peace in our time... tho it's getting late. ~ Gershon Gershon Wolf June 9, 2025 at 9:10 PM Oliver, may we know REAL peace in our time... tho it's getting late. ~ Gershon