i went to hear your name

2.3.23

i went to temple tonight
they don’t call it synagogue here
they call it temple
i’m not sure why
i’m sure you know
yes, i could google it
but who has the time, right?
also i’m too lazy
anyway, i went to temple tonight
to hear your name
at the end of the service
they say the names
of those who have passed
it was a year ago today that
well, you know
so i went to temple
to hear your name
said out loud
to a room
full of people
and tonight there were actually a lot people
there was a singer
a woman who comes every few weeks i guess
she was really good
had a lot of energy, a beautiful voice
she sang the adon olam
to the tune of scarborough fair
i couldn’t place it
i had to ask at the end
and then i was like, oh, riiiight
remember when we laughed
about how parsley sage rosemary and thyme
is simply a way to season chicken?
anyway the rabbi read off the list of names
it was alphabetical
i waited…
SIMMA STEIN
and i have to say
when i heard your name
said out loud
to a room
full of people
you were alive again
not alive alive
because that would be weird
but you were real
there was an energy
(that i probably put there myself)
but you were my mom
my mother
again, in a moment
and it was nice