Songs of Eretz Poetry Review: FALL 2021 “RELIGION” ISSUE/ Disguise of Goodwill, by Mark Tulin

Songs of Eretz Poetry Review: FALL 2021 “RELIGION” ISSUE
— Read on www.songsoferetz.com/2021/10/fall-2021-religion-issue.html

I am pleased to be a guest poet on this fine publication. Disguise of Goodwill, by Mark Tulin.

Disguise of Goodwill

Mark Tulin

 

 

Was it because of my religion, 

a stranger punched me in the belly? 

I dropped to my knees and muttered

damn gentile!

It was my christening of sorts,

introducing me to hate,  

a reminder that persecution still exists

How a nameless man with an angry face

could take out his rage 

on a small boy

throwing a ball against a step

 

After I caught my breath and dried my eyes, 

I wanted to run in the house 

and tell my mother,

please take me in your arms

and assure me people aren’t like this

 

Instead, I kept the pain to myself,

concealed it from others,

wrapped it in a disguise of goodwill

and made believe

the world was different.