Let’s not talk about the war. 

Let’s talk about something silly, 

petty, 

unimportant— 

like whether to put peas in the salad, whether to buy that coat on sale. 

Let’s talk about nothing. 

Look how strangely bright November is, 

how the leaves fall like bombs. 

The anxiety has rooted itself beneath my skin. 

Let’s not talk about the war. 

I’ll tell you what comes after the victory –

There will be light in your window again. You’ll rest from the long, cruel journey.

You’ll make some tea. 

Invite friends over. 

Everything will be like it used to be— 

as if nothing happened.

You’ll turn on the radio –

no bad news. 

You’ll turn the TV on –

no bloody corpses.

Let’s talk about cats. 

Babies. 

Let the last year fade 

like a bad dream. 

But there was a war. 

And it went on. 

And on.

And on.

And we sat in silence at the table.

#war #ukraine #israel