I 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.