Symbolic cobalt
boasting on the Israeli flag
2 solid stripes
1 iconic star

Clear, tinted sapphire waters
of the Mediterranean Sea
The soft tide washing up
streaked azure shells
on the shore of Tel-Aviv

The navy blue
of my old Brawerman uniform
Collared, traditional
But not a depressed shade
It was the rich navy
a proud ship captain presents upon his head
Plated in delicate gold,
lined in silky white thread.

The melted periwinkle wax
of the menorah on Hanukkah
stiff yet smooth
cluttered yet beautiful
But on the eighth night,
rivers of thick
blue-marble wax
flow down the menorah.
Vibrant and merry,
provoking memories

And the neighboring unwrapped gelt,
scattered among the kitchen countertop
and wooden floors beneath it.
Small, round pieces of royal blue foil
bent and molded into shapes
by the happy-go-lucky 5 year old boy
who demolished the bag of chocolates 

The blue of my religion is not
washed, fading denim jeans,
nor is it the soft cornflower blue
on a 2 month old baby’s diaper
The blue of my religion
is the unwavering blue
of my flag.