In the Beginning
GOD created
the heavens and the earth
and now…
there is darkness on the face of the deep
and the earth is void
of righteousness and compassion.
And GOD divided
between the heavens above
and the heavens beneath
and now…
the heavens are filled with cries of suffering
and the seas could never contain
the oceans of innocent blood.
And the Holy One
Blessed Be
gathered together the waters on earth
and now…
upon the dry land there is
grass and trees bearing fruit
and anger bearing hatred and death.
And on the fourth day
The Eternal GOD illuminated
sun and moon and stars
and now…
darkness threatens to overcome
the power of light
and the forces of evil and war unite.
Then ADONAI ELOHIM
called forth living creatures
to swarm in the heavens and in the seas
and now…
the skies are filled
with weapons of destruction
and violence clouds the very air we breathe.
And the Creator
of all the world said
Let us make animals and human beings
and now…
human beings have become as animals
that demand domination over all GOD’s works
and kill and destroy what they cannot control
But on the seventh day
GOD rested from all labor
and GOD blessed the work of Creation
and now…
we must live that blessing
we must turn from death and war
and learn again the message of hope and love and peace.
And now…
let there be peace
let there be light
let there be promise
let there be love.
(I wrote this poem just moments after hearing the tragic news of the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin on 4 November 1995/ 12 Cheshvan 5756)
