“Jerusalem II” by Moriel Rothman

“Jerusalem II.” Spoken word from Jerusalem’s worst day, yesterday, Jerusalem Day. The sea of flags made me sadder than I have been in a while: most of the marchers probably had no idea that for the few hours leading up to their procession, Israeli police were busy terrorizing, arresting, hitting and clearing out Palestinians so that the march could go through the Damascus Gate (in Occupied Palestine) without the marchers having to see a single counter-protestor, a single Palestinian flag, a single thing that might dampen their day. They seemed to be having a really nice time. Here’s to better days:

And the original, “Jerusalem,” (2012) for those who missed it:  

Jerusalem

Your sidewalks are so soft

They feel like jelly donuts

Jerusalem

I once saw a shmeagoly pigeon eating a jelly donut

Jerusalem

No I didn’t

Jerusalem

This one will not be as good as the last, but it’s still worth trying, right, Jerusalem?

It’s still worth trying?

Jerusalem

I think it’s confusing that Sacher Park does not become

Gan Sacher in Hebrew

Jerusalem

That’s confusing

Jerusalem

Gezuntheit

Jerusalem

Marhaba

Jerusalem

Since we last spoke, you’ve filled your Knesset with even more pleasant people

Jerusalem

Just kidding

Except for Dov Khenin

He really does seem pleasant

Which is why he’s going to be mayor of…

Jerusalem

Let’s talk about this at

Buddha Burger

Jerusalem!

Buddha Burger is a popular

vegan establishment in Tel Aviv

Jerusalem

Tel Aviv is a major metropolitan area in the state of Israel

Jerusalem

The state of Israel…

Jerusalem

You are wise beyond your years

Jerusalem

You are getting old

Jerusalem

Are those gray hairs between your stones?

Jerusalem

Stones can be dangerous

Jerusalem

Tear gas

Jerusalem

You don’t have hair

Jerusalem

You are a city

Jerusalem

Let’s move to Tel Aviv

Jerusalem

Let’s move to Ramallah

Jerusalem

Let’s move to Babel

Jerusalem

Let’s move to Bab al-Shams

I promise to stop being so critical

if you promise to stop

The evictions in Sheikh Jarrah

And lower my Arnona tax

Jerusalem

Let’s not set preconditions

Now don’t we?

Jerusalem

Let’s talk about the meaning of Zion

Jerusalem

Let’s talk about the meaning of what happened in Zion Square

Jerusalem

Let’s talk about democracy

Jerusalem

Let’s talk about “Zuabis”

Jerusalem

Let’s talk about Meir Kahana

Jerusalem

Let’s talk about Hanna Senesh

Jerusalem

Let’s talk about the United States Senate

Jerusalem

I voted for Naftali Bennet

Jerusalem

I voted for Benedict Arnold

Jerusalem

I voted for Arnold Schwartzeneggar

Becuase Jerusalem

You have women praying at your wall

And children huddled in your jail cells

And pigeons perched in your perches

But you need a man at your helm

Or is it “Chelm?”

Jerusalem

Is it heteronormativity

Or heseronormasivity

Jerusalem

I am getting weirder

Jerusalem

I do have positive things to say

Jerusalem

I think it’s adorable that the two shekel coin is called a shnekel

Jerusalem

I think your fashion sense

Is sensibly pre-modern

Jerusalem

What about the restobar?

Jerusalem

What about the rest of us?

Jerusalem

What about the refugees?

Jerusalem

What was that about a city of peace?

Jerusalem

You don’t really want to go to war do you?

Jerusalem

Let’s process the process

Of this process

Jerusalem

Peace

Jerusalem

Peace