​//creative//
Spring 2019

please stop leaving during the Mourner’s Kaddish
​Eliza Moss-Horwitz

​friday night the crosses are covered
inside our makeshift temple blankets shield
posters of jesus and church announcements
brick walls surround us, the Jews north of 103rd street,
depleted after gleeful songs


hush now!
the moment is upon us
as a child shut my eyes,
but tonight i am watchful
finally, a Proper summation of the dead!


the old woman speaks first, purple kippah,
lavender handkerchief by her face


my mother the words slip out of her tongue
as her dress brushes the rug below
hush now!
to think of outfits during our prayer for the dead


her voice then more,
how can there be so many?
echoing name, gone, name, gone
lost letters
who will be on the list tonight?


the fan moans, crying out for the dead
not quite in this world, of the living,
but somewhere in-between


maybe her mother hears this cry or
maybe she has become the fan or
maybe she can even tell the fans to
lower their sullen roar


mother, can you hear her?
for now let us dream of belief

//ELIZA MOSS-HORWITZ is a Senior in Barnard College. She can be reached at em3146@barnard.edu.