The Minor Chords
The Minor Chords” is a poem by Jill Blum. The graphic design was done by the poet herself.
Photography by Isabelle Young @isabellespaintedsky
in the evening
my son’s sweet voice echoed
in the background
as it does on nights
when his father gets to snuggle him to sleep
tonight it stopped me dead
as i heard the minor chords
of the kaddish over the candles
his kindergarten voice recalling
the joy of Chanukah just past
i leapt to hear the voices of my ancestors
felt my grandmother’s hand on my keppe
saw my grandfather’s eyes welling with pride
as his lineage continues; despite his necessary
assimilation for survival
I rushed to his bedside
where he showed me
the well-loved stuffie he was singing for
and i teared up knowing he is the
only heir to the legacy of so many who hoped
our family would one day return to the old city
in Jerusalem
and know the peace that is home
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Jill Blum is an award-winning graphic designer from the United States. She studied Corporate Communications and Publication Design at the University of Baltimore, where she graduated cum laude. She has worked for the Baltimore Jewish Times, Stanley Black & Decker, and the University System of Maryland. Jill has worked in a wide range of design and leadership capacities, ranging from production artist to Creative Director.