At the End of the Class

1. The young woman in a hijab thanked/praised/appreciated me
2. For all I had shown/ encouraged/ inspired in her
3. Asked whether I observed/ took part in/ celebrated Rosh Hashanah?
4. How did she find out/ realise/ discover that I was Jewish?
5. I was shocked/ unprepared/ almost ashamed that she’d asked me
6. Would that matter/ affect her?/ impact on our work together?
7. Would she still trust/ accept support/ be taught by me?
8. I wanted to explain/ dissociate from/ apologise for the genocide.
9. I am silent/ confused/ there are no words. We exchange a look.
10. Did something like recognition/ warmth/ sisterhood/ flit between us?

Viv Fogel London-based psychotherapist, poet, artist, grandmother, activist daughter of refugees. Her poems are published in many anthologies and journals. Recent collection is  Imperfect Beginnings  (Fly on the Wall Press,  2023) and she’s currently co-editing the writings of women in Afghanistan, to be published in October.