Jerusalem

center of the world
whose birthpangs never end,
dusty streets and chimes that
know no peace,
save what’s left from hope:
you are a city of too many walls,
a rat’s maze for cheese
no longer there,
yet still rank with violence.
oh my
gods of this world,
or a god of another,
bring to end
this senseless shame
upon us all
before our tefillah
becomes a scream.