to love somebody
and when i tell you that
i love The Bee Gees
you should know
i’m six years old
my ema sings along with the radio
in a thick Israeli accent,
to love somebody, to love somebody, the way i love you
and when i tell you that
i love the desert
you should know
it isn’t only because
it is the land of my mother’s
but it is also mine
where an unknown aunt
on a lonely farm
speaks to me in Hebrew
and i almost understand
and when i tell you that
there’s no speak of hate
no words of them
no talk of others
you should know
ema remembers all
the wars
the bombs
the near misses
waiting in line with her sister
for a block of government cheese
she isn’t scared to remember
but i can see she misses everyone
i’m here! i’m here! i’m here! i remind her
she hugs me close
the unknown aunt becomes known
when she gives me a baby chicken from her farm
and i promise to take care of the baby chicken forever
but they won’t let me bring it on the plane
so i leave the baby chicken behind
the way we leave all things behind
and i cry, but it isn’t fair!
and we sing,
to love somebody, to love somebody, the way i love you