Blue Birds Fly

Blue

In 1940 my brother smuggled a copy of  

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" into Germany. 

He played that song 

again and again 

for years to come. 

Even when the Nazis made us wear stars 

and dressed him in stripes. 

He thought of life in Oz. 

Of wizards, not wars. 

Of skies, not storms. 

And he said to me one day, 

"Chaya do you see. This song is about us. 

The bluebirds fly, 

with their blue eyes, 

over the rainbow, 

to rights and wages.

We don't get that though. 

We are the girl who cries, 

'why oh why can't I'"