Naaman Muses 1962 Poem by Terry Collett

Naaman thinks
of Shoshana
muses on her
as he writes
from the blackboard
in class.

The teacher explaining
the rise of the Nazis
the resulting war
and the Holocaust.

His grandfather died
in 1936
and his great-uncle
in 1941.

The stain of anti-Semitism
having touched his family.

He wonders if Shoshana's family
had been hit so from the curse.

Naaman writes
in his neatest hand
the script the teacher
has written.

He hopes she
will be there
on the sports field
at recess
if the weather is fine.

He hasn't brought
his book today
he wonders if she
will allow him a kiss.

The teacher has
finished his script
and stands back
to view his work
hands on his hips.

He has seen a photo
of his grandfather
back in 1929.

Before the Nazis
came to power.

He is smiling
bright eyed.

Unlike that
Naaman assumes
when he died.