The town had lost its tailor
She had vanished in thick air
One night you’re sitting with joy
At the head of the table
The next you’re dining with your longing
Then war breaks out
In Ecuador in Myanmar
There’s never enough milk
To nurture the children
In Kherson in Rafah
There’s no longer a choice
You’re the tailor
Up to your ears in dusty cloth
Darning the scarves
The hats
The sweaters
Trying to protect the young
Sewing the coast
As the waves encroach

Howie Faerstein is the author of Out of Order, (Main Street Press) & two full-length collections: Dreaming of the Rain in Brooklyn and Googootz and Other Poems, published by Press 53. STAY, a recent collection (Human Error Publishing) was published in February 2023. A multiple Pushcart nominee & recipient of the NOVA 2022 poetry prize, he’s co-poetry editor of Cutthroat & lives in Florence, MA.