Four Teaspoons to One Quart

I was taught God made us in His image.

I was taught God made us in His image.
Let’s mix the bleach—
I’m cleaning cupboards.

Four teaspoons bleach to one quart water.
Many of Gaza’s Medical Workers Have Been Detained or Killed.
I was taught God made us in His image.

I spritz the outside of a door, circle the sponge.
Israeli Strike Kills Dozens at Gaza Shelter.
I’m cleaning cupboards.

Rinse the sponge, swab the inside; the hinges squeak.
‘They Are Burned Alive’: A Doctor Captures the Toll of War
             
on Gaza’s Children
I was taught God made us in His image.

The paper lining the shelves should be replaced.
At Least 30 Are Reported Killed in Khan Younis in 24 Hours
I’m cleaning cupboards.

Seven cabinets above, eight below.
U.S. Will Allow Delivery of 500-Pound Bombs to Israel,
           an Official Says.
I was taught God made me in His image.
I’m cleaning cupboards.





Words in italics are all headlines which appeared on The New York Times website during the one-month period from July 11 through August 10, 2024.

In order of appearance the links to headlines are:

Sankar, Anjana. 2024 August 2. “Many of Gaza’s Medical Workers Have Been Detained or Killed.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/02/world/middleeast/gaza-doctors-medical-workers-israel.html

Video by Storyful and Reuters. 2024 August 4. “Israeli Strike Kills Dozens at Gaza Shelter.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/middleeast/100000009610600/israel-strike-gaza-city-shelter.html

El-Naggar, Mona and Kerr, Sarah. 2024 August 10. “‘They Are Burned Alive’: A Doctor Captures the Toll of War on Gaza’s Children.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/10/world/middleeast/gaza-al-aqsa-hospital-children.html

Sankar, Anjana. 2024 July 24. “At Least 30 Are Reported Killed in Khan Younis in 24 Hours.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/25/world/middleeast/israeli-forces-press-forward-in-khan-younis-at-least-30-people-are-reported-killed-in-24-hours.html

Boxerman, Aaron. 2024 July 11. “U.S. Will Allow Delivery of 500-Pound Bombs to Israel, an Official Says.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/11/world/middleeast/us-israel-bombs.html

About the author

Susan Robertson grew up outside Washington, D.C. but has made her home in Canada for years. Her poems have appeared in journals in Canada and the United States including Prairie Fire, Parentheses, the Offing, Grain, HAD, The /tƐmz/ Review and Psaltery & Lyre.