When I was a child in the 1970s
I lived in Calgary
I heard Jesus died for me at Calvary
I spoke as a child “Are they the same?”
People laughed, showed me a globe
Israel on the other side
I felt as a child when in the Bible, God said
Don’t touch my chosen people!
He meant me and Israel
I thought as a child Israel
in the book of Exodus & the Calgary Herald
fought their enemies, yet again
When I became a woman the texts (and the news)
read genocide
I put away childish things and grieve
Note: Italicized phrases in the poem reference 1 Corinthians 13:11, 1 Chronicles 16:22.
Marilyn Letts is a poet and writer who loves to experiment. Her poetry publications include FreeFall Magazine, Feathertale Review, and Other Voices. She lives on the traditional territories of the peoples of the Treaty 7 region and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Districts 5 & 6.
