I’m empty. Drained.
Like a dry riverbed
in the heat of the desert sun.
I am emptied out,
my water taken away–
buckets
filled with my precious
drops of life.
Each drop,
a world of its own–
a life
taken captive, fate unknown.
Taken captive, dead and gone.
Taken captive
and I am here
to mourn.
Now I beg
Now I pledge
Now I pray
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ חֵי הָעוֹלָמִים מַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים
Blessed are you God, life of all the worlds, who makes the captive free
Bring them home.
I will be here
Waiting
Ready
For their return,
like a tidal wave.

אֲנִי רֵיקָה. יַבָּשָׁה.
כְּנַחַל אַכְזָב
תַּחַת שֶׁמֶשׁ הַמִּדְבָּר הַקּוֹפַחַת.

רוֹקַנְתִּי.
מַיְּמִי נִלְקְחוּ מִמֶּנִּי
דְּלָיִים מְלֵאִים
בְּטִפּוֹת של חַיַּים.

וְכָל טִפָּה,
עוֹלָם וּמְלוֹאוֹ
חַיִּים
נִלְקְחוּ בִּשְׁבִי, הַגּוֹרָל לֹא יָדוֹעַ
נִלְקְחוּ בִּשְׁבִי, מֵתוּ וְלֹא יָשׁוּבוּ
נִלְקְחוּ בִּשְׁבִי
וַאֲנִי פֶּה
לְהִתְאַבֵּל.

וְכָעֵת אֲנִי מִתְחַנֶּנֶת
אֲנִי מְבַקֶּשֶׁת
אֲנִי מִתְפַּלֶּלֶת
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ חֵי הָעוֹלָמִים מַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים
הָשֵׁב אוֹתָם לְבֵיתָם
וַאֲנִי אֶהְיֶה כָּאן
מַמְתִּינָה
מוּכָנָה
לַחֲזַרְתָּם
כְּנַחְשׁוֹלֵי הַיָּם.

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