I still remember how
Those large brown eyes
Widened in innocent disbelief,
Laced effortlessly with immature cynicism
As it seemed strange to you
The way the elastic of America
Seemed slack in comparison
To the taught to the degree of snapping elastic of Israel

Each fiber of your being seemed
Wrapped in tallit strings tied in
Strange knots, binding you
To simple patriotism
That you never questioned
And yet never wanted to,

You could not fathom Greg Heston,
Or why I questioned the wars of the president I did not
Vote for yet was forced to call my own
Or why anyone bearing the
Shield of David could bear
To question the pain inflicted
On disconnected others

Your stomach stayed stagnant
At the thought of starvation in Africa,
Your eyes did not burn at the thought of explosions
In a sky that was not yours
Your lips did not so much as whimper
But spewed justification of actions
Wrought with blood of innocents
As government officials sat on velvet cushions

To you, patriotism is does not see.
To me, patriotism speaks.
I cannot embrace my country’s wars
Yet you let your country’s wars seduce you

To this day I cannot tell whether it is the difference in our countries
Or the difference in us…