A Literary Magazine in Support of the Jewish Community
Questions My Four-Year-Old Asks Me Before Falling Asleep
What do eyebrows do? And why do sharks bite? Do squirrels mind the rain? What’s hiding inside the sky? How does the sun go down… and can we follow it? What sound does a giraffe make? Do you know about counterweight? Can you buy the Trevi Fountain for me? And also, more animal crackers please? What do ladybugs eat? What if the floor disappears while we’re sleeping? Did you know my tongue is like a drawer because it slides in and out? When someone dies and we bury them, why don’t they just dig themselves out? What’s the difference between nozzles and nostrils? Also, what’s the difference between thorns and splinters? Did you know that thunder is just the wind blowing clouds until they bump into each other real loud? Did you know that when you’re sad it feels like you’re up in the sky and no one is with you? What do pets do? How do you know if God is smart? Did you know, when we go places together, that’s adhesion? What does it mean to be in real life? Did you know that when you’re happy it feels like you’re sitting on a roof with a friend? How does the moon always follow us? What’s the schedule for next year? Can you tell me what happened when I was a baby? Can you stay with me until morning? Can you tell me again how you love me with your whole heart?
Mia Herman
Mia Herman is a Jewish writer and editor living in New York. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Hofstra University and her work has appeared in dozens of publications including Barren Magazine, Bellevue Literary Review, Redivider, Stanchion, Third Coast, and Variant Lit. UNTIL THE END OF TIME (Alien Buddha Press, 2023) is Mia's debut poetry chapbook. Connect with her on X @MiaMHerman or find out more at miahermanwrites.com.
