Poems
Tirzah Goldenberg
extra-biblical by less
furtively interpretive
midrash fight shy of
that kind of composite proof text
to read in an extant state
to identify it devequt
your yad’s yield of literal mistakes
complete with pomegranates
antique finials
above the decorative
non-figurative
breastplate
(the remains of) anything belonging to the rebels
her sandals near to olives to
her braided hair alephs in the hidden press
the earthly figs pressed
angelic liturgy to figments
their bones dates to dates
and their bones of Shabbos moons
of holy scrolls to sing like the angels
our talismans rebels b’yachad
our drawn lots early Hebrew
our fruits ostraca
the Unchangeable desires change
assembling pines pitching resinous
seals the kavod bowing for a spell
here in where’s forecourt where
coins are mint
ed repeatedly to change
ling poems bearing change
lings to bust
our poorly made money
Tirzah Goldenberg is the author of the collection of poetry Aleph (Verge Books 2017). Another collection with an unpronounceable Paleo-Hebrew title is forthcoming from the same press in 2020. Other work can be found in Dispatches from the Poetry Wars, Aurochs, Flag + Void, and LVNG.
