Dreams and fine clothing, family chaos, all the long tale
of JosephJacob's eldest son by his beloved wife, Rachel. Joseph, the dreamer, was his father's favorite and nearly murdered by his brothers. Sold into slavery, he became viceroy of Egypt where he ultimately saves the Egyptians and also his own family from starvation. His Hebrew name is Yosef/ the son of Judah comes drenched in dread—
a cloak dipped in goat’s blood, a pharaoh rich with power,
even the meaning of seven fat cows and seven starving:
of JosephJacob's eldest son by his beloved wife, Rachel. Joseph, the dreamer, was his father's favorite and nearly murdered by his brothers. Sold into slavery, he became viceroy of Egypt where he ultimately saves the Egyptians and also his own family from starvation. His Hebrew name is Yosef/ the son of Judah comes drenched in dread—
a cloak dipped in goat’s blood, a pharaoh rich with power,
even the meaning of seven fat cows and seven starving:
Last night I put myself into each one’s place, tasting
the bitter broth of envy, desertion, defeat, a hostage held,
forced emigration to a dry land of famines. Then
how could I wash their blood from my eyes? My heart?
the bitter broth of envy, desertion, defeat, a hostage held,
forced emigration to a dry land of famines. Then
how could I wash their blood from my eyes? My heart?
Line by line I parsed the story again, seeking some comfort
that didn’t depend on the deadly and desperate, witnessing
all over again how dreams become nightmares, and family
fosters ferocity and injury. Working back, back, in TorahThe Five Books of Moses, and the foundation of all of Jewish life and lore. The Torah is considered the heart and soul of the Jewish people, and study of the Torah is a high mitzvah. The Torah itself a scroll that is hand lettered on parchment, elaborately dressed and decorated, and stored in a decorative ark. It is chanted aloud on Mondays, Thursdays, and Shabbat, according to a yearly cycle. Sometimes "Torah" is used as a colloquial term for Jewish learning and narrative in general. time
that didn’t depend on the deadly and desperate, witnessing
all over again how dreams become nightmares, and family
fosters ferocity and injury. Working back, back, in TorahThe Five Books of Moses, and the foundation of all of Jewish life and lore. The Torah is considered the heart and soul of the Jewish people, and study of the Torah is a high mitzvah. The Torah itself a scroll that is hand lettered on parchment, elaborately dressed and decorated, and stored in a decorative ark. It is chanted aloud on Mondays, Thursdays, and Shabbat, according to a yearly cycle. Sometimes "Torah" is used as a colloquial term for Jewish learning and narrative in general. time
to two sisters who shared one spouse, and the painful love
born in each of them. RachelLavan's younger daughter and Jacob's beloved wife second wife (after he is initially tricked into marrying her older sister, Leah). Rachel grieves throughout her life that she is barren while Leah is so fertile. Ultimately, Rachel gives birth to Joseph and dies in childbirth with Benjamin. Rachel is remembered as compassionate (she is said to still weep for her children), and infertile women often invoke Rachel as a kind of intercessor and visit her tomb on the road to Bethlehem., LeahThe third of the Jewish matriarchs, Lead is the eldest of Lavan's daughters and one of the wives of Jacob. She is the daughter whom Lavan tricks Jacob into marrying instead of his younger daughter Rachel, whom Jacob has requested to marry. Leah is mother to six of the the twelve tribes and to one daughter, Dinah., how many readers connect
Joseph’s dreams of destiny blossoming to your babies?
I’m making a rash guess: The blessings you gave them
born in each of them. RachelLavan's younger daughter and Jacob's beloved wife second wife (after he is initially tricked into marrying her older sister, Leah). Rachel grieves throughout her life that she is barren while Leah is so fertile. Ultimately, Rachel gives birth to Joseph and dies in childbirth with Benjamin. Rachel is remembered as compassionate (she is said to still weep for her children), and infertile women often invoke Rachel as a kind of intercessor and visit her tomb on the road to Bethlehem., LeahThe third of the Jewish matriarchs, Lead is the eldest of Lavan's daughters and one of the wives of Jacob. She is the daughter whom Lavan tricks Jacob into marrying instead of his younger daughter Rachel, whom Jacob has requested to marry. Leah is mother to six of the the twelve tribes and to one daughter, Dinah., how many readers connect
Joseph’s dreams of destiny blossoming to your babies?
I’m making a rash guess: The blessings you gave them
suckling and snug against your swollen, wounded hearts:
those, more than the fine coat or that pharaoh’s gratitude,
saved them from murdering each other. Mother’s milk
sweet and supportive, lingering all their lives.
those, more than the fine coat or that pharaoh’s gratitude,
saved them from murdering each other. Mother’s milk
sweet and supportive, lingering all their lives.
One more dangerous reading, and I tore my hair
in pain with the story’s daughters, DinahDina is Jacob's only daughter and the sister of the twelve tribes. and Tamar.
For all the good that Judah’s sons reaped, how bitter
in equal measure came these women’s destinies.
in pain with the story’s daughters, DinahDina is Jacob's only daughter and the sister of the twelve tribes. and Tamar.
For all the good that Judah’s sons reaped, how bitter
in equal measure came these women’s destinies.
So how could I be surprised as a man on the evening news
proclaimed: Your body. My choice.
proclaimed: Your body. My choice.
Art by the poet
