Poetry or poetic fragments in response to Nitzavim

Hearing one’s one voice
in the midst of sounds of the other
Seeing one’s one face
in the face of the other.

Voices, each unique, together
make the sound of the thrush.
invoking everything.
Your voice, mine;
your heart, mine;
your face, mine.
Selves unfolding –
in our reflection,
the divine.

Close your scowling angry eyes
and imagine the permanence of death
for your scowling angry eyes
will never see the face of God
smiling in the eyes of a child.

“As one man speaks to another.”

I speak to you as I speak to God.
I speak to God as I speak to you.

How can that be?

To you I know I can talk,
You’re with me as I walk,
Sleep — Go through my day.
You’re always present,
Teaching me your way.

Struggle with the chasm
The chasm of perception and of reality
Of what is far and what is close
Of what is out of reach and what is attainable
Struggle, to rise above.

Midrash for a Desert Skeptic

I am a traveler never at rest, living a life that is hard and without, wondering where is the call that I seek from beyond;

what will wrap itself around me and who?

A traveler, a seeker: here there and everywhere I seek it— my life in thrall to it— for I am far from Sinai and nowhere near the promised land.

This desert promises nothing but fear. Yet I am a seeker and I reach through my tears never resting never resting still, I hear words mumbled…. and even dim, their truth rings clear. “This is the day,” (I hear) “What day?” “Any day…any now. Now is the day and forever is now.”

“But I am a seeker and….”

“Sssh, now listen, the thing you seek is very close to you…”

“But I….”

“Sssh, in your mouth and in your heart. In your seeking itself I hear your cries, I feel your tears. In your seeking itself I know you and you know me. Rest awhile, tell me everything; we will cry together, we will travel together we will sing the skies open and all will be One on this day now and every now.”

Where is Sinai?
When is Sinai?
Let every step and every breath ascend toward Sinai
……………………………………………………………………..

From the terrace of San Pau
The Catalan sun soaking thru my shirt
Lost in those distant unearthly turrets
Framed by the green boulevard and blue sky,
Together we made aliyah to Sagrada Familia,
Our excitement finding voice.
The heat.
The architecture.
The calculated design of this yellow brick-like promenade
Leading from the gates of purgatory to those of paradise.
Strolling together under the trees,
Themselves shaded by the earthly
Reflection of Heaven.
As we approached,
Backs to the diseased and troubled world
Faces shining
Each step lighter,
Each step closer,
I could not help but consider the irony
Of this modern Hebrew family
Approaching in awe the tri-partite God.
When suddenly, struck,
I knew before whom I stood.
And saw in that writhing stone entry
A clarity of path never before so strong.
“Remember this instant always”
I urged and, for that instant, was at peace.
For that instant, that memory,
We four, arm in arm,
Warmed by the Catalan sun,
Aspiring toward Sacred Family.
Illuminated in the shadow of Adonai,
Has been my life’s purpose.
And, I pray, will be your legacy
When I am gone.

Now, the heart speaks
The lips listen
Driven from above, it is no longer path
Emerging from sea, it is no longer earth
This body
This time
These lips
This heart
Fighting the bonds only makes them stronger

People huddled together
close
afraid
amazed
Everything seems so near and far