Hanukkah

If history is written by the winners,
our victories are few and far between,
but nonetheless substantial.  No beginners,
though quoted on the subject sight unseen,
we celebrate those few with food and candle
and marvel at the heroes of the past --
they make our losses easier to handle.
We toast each other: free, we're free at last,
but underneath it all, a common worry:
How long this time?  Is freedom here to stay?
As black and white turn grey and red lines blurry,
what options do we have?  Forgive and pray?
A festival of lights, each night a toy.
Joy to the world, indeed.  So, so much joy.