When Hanukkah Comes Early

A menorah with red candles lies on the open pages of Hebrew scripture.

Stories of guerrilla warfare and forbidden learning
need witness
by small flames that grow in number
We marvel at the miracles of oil and bodies
and fry potatoes until it smells like the holy day it is
It’s the First Night of the rest of our lives!
We could have assimilated but instead
we rededicate