13 years, Rachella, HaYa"D

thirteen years
already thirteen years
a baby boy born
on the day of her murder
would be a man
reponsible for his sins
barmitzvah

this period of time
what has it done
to us
how much older?

dried up
matured
lost our innocence

Rachella's grave
the first
on the side of hill
not alone

neighborhood filled
all ages
all stories
from all over
the Jewish world

Russia, Peru, Algeria
the U.S.
and of course
Israel

from Israel
some were old
full lives

others infants
school children
teens
and soldiers

"natural" deaths
though how "natural"
for parents and grandparents
to bury a child

many murdered
too many
even one's too many

but only Rachella
murdered in her "prime"
as a young mother

seven scarred children
and eternally grieving parents
and friends