Prayer for a Pandemic
Awaken at two a.m.
day four of Passover, Easter Sunday
enumerate the dead &
the afflicted
break open your heart again
don’t fight
the pounding fear
growing there, relinquish
each footfall, touch
silken ash to forehead
make the sign of the cross

Believe, believe
behold the Paschal Lamb
behold the promised land
face the east
rock from heel to toe
drop and give me twenty
repent, repent
kiss the ring
click your heels together & say
God is great, God is good

Cover your head with a mitpachat
cover your face with a homemade mask
sneeze into your elbow
press your hand to your heart
breathe in through your nose
& out through your mouth
surrender, say the Pledge
of Allegiance, kneel
open your mouth
for the wafer

Make an inventory of all parts
before you begin assembly
enumerate the dead &
the afflicted
rinse & repeat
break your heart wide open
don’t think the unthinkable
don’t think, don’t think
when thoughts drift in
acknowledge them without judgement

Wander through another day
like a ghost, say
the Shema, say Kaddish
praise Allah, press
your forehead to the earth
awaken at two a.m.
enumerate the dead &
the afflicted
break your heart wide open
don’t fight
the pounding fear
growing there, acknowledge sorrow
without judgment
don’t think, don’t think
don’t think the unthinkable
awaken at two a.m.

Nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best Small Fictions, and the Millions, Dina Greenberg’s writing has appeared in Bellevue Literary Review, Pembroke Magazine, Split Rock Review, Tahoma Literary Review, Barely South, and Wilderness House Literary Review, among others. The opening chapters of her novel Nermina’s Chance were recently featured at Embark. Dina earned an MFA in fiction from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she served as managing editor for the literary journal Chautauqua. Dina enjoys the privilege of teaching creative writing to a multigenerational group of community participants at the Cameron Art Museum, and also provides one-on-one writing coaching for victims of trauma. Much of her work is available at http:///www.dinagreenberg.com.