Elul poem Written by Rachel Kann, Poetry teacher through UCLA Extension Writers’ Program Let I/Me/Us/We begin with begging forgiveness for this petition’s penitent repetition, my/our mission is driven by persistent and specific wishes we are incapable of dismissing. I/Me/Us/We are the opening, the ten-thousandth gate-swing, I/Me/Us/We plead for clemency; to be sprung from this linguistic prison. Decolonize my/our verbal volition. Repair the damage of landlocking my/our oceanic tongue, mermaid-mouths choking