elul: psalm 27
we are told to say the following
every day for a month
in preparation for the days of awe:
every day for a month
in preparation for the days of awe:
you are my light my help
when I’m with you I’m not afraid
I want to live in your house
when I’m with you I’m not afraid
I want to live in your house
the enemies that chew my heart
the enemies that break my spine
I’m not afraid of them when I’m with you
the enemies that break my spine
I’m not afraid of them when I’m with you
all my life I have truly trusted you
save me from the liars
let me live in your house
save me from the liars
let me live in your house
*****
rosh hashanahThe Jewish New Year, also considered the Day of Judgment. The period of the High Holidays is a time of introspection and atonement. The holiday is celebrated with the sounding of the shofar, lengthy prayers in synagogue, the eating of apples and honey, and round challah for a sweet and whole year. Tashlikh, casting bread on the water to symbolize the washing away of sins, also takes place on Rosh Hashana.
the birthday of adamAdam is the first human being created by God. Symbolizes: Creation, humankind.
the innocent earthling
and the day hagarAbraham's concubine and the mother of Ishmael, the patriarch of Islam. In the book of Genesis, when Sarah cannot conceive, she suggests that Abraham takeher servant Hagar as a concubine in order to conceive a child, which she promptly does. Feeling threatened by Hagar and her child, Sarah convinces Abraham to banish them from their home. God saves Hagar and Ishmael from dying in the desert. and ishmael
found water in the desert
the innocent earthling
and the day hagarAbraham's concubine and the mother of Ishmael, the patriarch of Islam. In the book of Genesis, when Sarah cannot conceive, she suggests that Abraham takeher servant Hagar as a concubine in order to conceive a child, which she promptly does. Feeling threatened by Hagar and her child, Sarah convinces Abraham to banish them from their home. God saves Hagar and Ishmael from dying in the desert. and ishmael
found water in the desert
in memory of whom
mud staining our shoes
water flowing in handfuls
we sniff the smell of living dying things
mud staining our shoes
water flowing in handfuls
we sniff the smell of living dying things
reach into our pockets
for the bread that represents
our sins, toss it in, praying release
us, help us, forgive us
for the bread that represents
our sins, toss it in, praying release
us, help us, forgive us
the river answers
by swallowing our crumbs
by swallowing our crumbs
do our prayers travel upward
do they defy gravity
like rain splashed on the windshield
of a car speeding through storm
do they defy gravity
like rain splashed on the windshield
of a car speeding through storm
in ten days we will go hungrier
pray harder
pray harder
*****
yom kippurThe holiest day of the Jewish year and the culmination of a season of self-reflection. Jews fast, abstain from other worldly pleasures, and gather in prayers that last throughout the day. Following Ne'ilah, the final prayers, during which Jews envision the Gates of Repentance closing, the shofar is sounded in one long blast to conclude the holy day. It is customary to begin building one's sukkah as soon as the day ends.
we destroy we break we are broken
and this is the fast you have chosen
on rosh hashanah it is written
on yom kippur it is sealed
and this is the fast you have chosen
on rosh hashanah it is written
on yom kippur it is sealed
who shall live and who shall die
which goat will have his throat cut
like an unlucky IsaacAbraham and Sarah's much-longed-for son and the second Jewish patriarch. Isaac is nearly sacrificed by his father at God's command (Genesis 22). He is married to Rebecca and is the father of Esau and Jacob. His Hebrew name is Yitzchak.
which goat will have his throat cut
like an unlucky IsaacAbraham and Sarah's much-longed-for son and the second Jewish patriarch. Isaac is nearly sacrificed by his father at God's command (Genesis 22). He is married to Rebecca and is the father of Esau and Jacob. His Hebrew name is Yitzchak.
spitting a red thread and which goat
will be sent alive to the pit where the crazies are
thread lightly tied around its neck
will be sent alive to the pit where the crazies are
thread lightly tied around its neck
who will possess diamonds and pearls
and who will be killed
by an addicted lover
and who will be killed
by an addicted lover
who shall voyage the web of the world
like an eagle, and who shall curl to sleep
over a steam grate like a worm
like an eagle, and who shall curl to sleep
over a steam grate like a worm
who shall be photographed and whose
face will disappear like smoke
face will disappear like smoke
this is the fast you have chosen, turn return
how to turn   like leaves  like a page  like a corner
what is our knowledge, what is our strength
how to turn   like leaves  like a page  like a corner
what is our knowledge, what is our strength
I am like the stones people place on graves to make them a little heavier
such a stone says, in its oracular way, don’t come back or return only as grass
but it is tired of being a stone, it wishes to be open, it would like to be an egg
such a stone says, in its oracular way, don’t come back or return only as grass
but it is tired of being a stone, it wishes to be open, it would like to be an egg
honeybees manufacture honey, a power station generates electricity
cotton plants extrude smooth fibre, and my cells secrete anger
my mind propagates envy, but repentance, prayer and good deeds
cotton plants extrude smooth fibre, and my cells secrete anger
my mind propagates envy, but repentance, prayer and good deeds
avert the stern decree, I am like a ramshackle house during a hurricane
struck by guilt waves and fear waves, the walls could collapse any time
but the foolish old woman who lives there refuses to leave
struck by guilt waves and fear waves, the walls could collapse any time
but the foolish old woman who lives there refuses to leave
