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KNOW HER
For Marcia Sibony
Julia Stein
Sister in desperation
We are afraid the administration would ax our
jobs
She Xeroxed grievances on the office machine—
our jobs restored like a forest of newly planted
trees.
Sister in raising hell,
We wrote up a petition, stuffed it in all the
teachers’ boxes.
Silence for a month when Mr. Big wrote a letter,
apologized for not responding to us sooner.
Sister in holidays,
We celebrated Sukkouth, sat in a green booth made
of
green leaves and branches, feasting on havlah,
humus, wine,
-- protected from all our enemies.
A sister you can rely on.
Often I opened the door to her room, let her students
in.
Once I was late, the door to my room was open.
She can be counted on.
Julia
Stein is a part time English instructor at Santa
Monica College. She has Recently published two
books of poetry.
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