The Children of Sderot

know it is not mannah falling from the skies
the children of Sderot
know it is not the ram’s horn
for its blast is heard in the night
as well as in the morning
and it is not a mitzvah
the children of Sderot
know it is no chariot of fire
sent by the Lord
but fire sharks whose fins slice the air
as if it were water
sleek torpedoes come to sink a house
the children of Sderot
know the world is not listening
does not hear the Tzeva Adom
and couldn’t care less anyway
the children of Sderot
know these are not the Ofanim
singing Holy Holy Holy
nor even the Seraphim
who sing Holy once
before they are consumed in the fury of their joy
the children of Sderot
know the Heavens open to reveal
the crimson rose of Asmodeus
the children of Sderot
know the Slushy machine at Café Pele
is empty of its elixirs
and the ice cream refrigerator is empty of its sweetness
the children of Sderot
know it is not love that moves the sun and the other stars
but a wind that jars the senses and the soul
and joins the heavens to the earth
in darkest consummation
the children of Sderot
know the Talmud is no Iron Dome
the children of Sderot
know that Batman is not the answer to their prayers
and have lost their infant faith
in miraculous interventions
for the caped crusader is nowhere to be found
the children of Sderot
know that flying white balloons
crayoned with peace messages
will not deflect an Incoming
the children of Sderot
know the missives from above
are bang-on with their message
the children of Sderot
know they are alone with all the others
who are also all alone
the children of Sderot
know the world is not with them
the children of Sderot
know