Dizengoff Shooting | Karen Alkalay-Gut

Shooting and Talking

At the exact moment a gunman 
is shooting out the hearts 
of a dozen guys who were holding
beers in their hands, 
and the backs of those
who didn’t have time
to turn around,

I am chuckling with a Muslim pharmacist
about the complexities of the Israeli medical system
and of the nuisance of preparing
for colonoscopies.  We know 
each other’s tongues, and revel in 
the joys of staying well.

Back in the car, the radio tells me
how important was 
our little chat in the drugstore
and how many more banal conversations
we must strive for

The Gunman Contemplates His Work

They look exactly like me
And they look into my eyes
As I empty my gun 
into their hearts.
With nowhere to run
I can blend into the crowd
And disappear

Karen Alkalay-Gut…

…is a poet living in Tel Aviv, professor emerita at Tel Aviv University, and chair of The Israel Association of Writers in English. She has many books of poetry in English and Hebrew and several books of literary criticism. She is also an organizer of 100 Thousand Poets for Change events in Israel.

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