John S Green
First Impressions
(haibun)
As I arrive to Al Quds University on the outskirts
of East Jerusalem, a man shouts, "Be careful! Soldiers!
Gas!" He wipes his eyes to demonstrate that the military
are dispensing tear gas onto campus. I see plumes down
the street outside the library. The pop of canasters shatter
the air. The sulfur smoke is closer-my eyes begin to burn.
I hustle into the Faculty of Arts building to my wife's
office, shut her window, turn up the fan, and sit down.
Outside, in the hallway, is an energetic conversation
about the coming academic year, and how to best
prepare for the big wave of students.
Israeli checkpoint
from the packed bus
counting olive trees
Bio
John S Green, author of Whimsy Park: Children's Poems for the Whole Family, is widely published in all styles of poetry-especially Japanese form poetry. John lived in Europe before moving to the United States at age thirteen. His daughter cooks with spice, and his wife still laughs at his jokes.