Entering Year Three

The spotlight on the missing has dimmed, these days—
more than 800,000 dead and 5 million ill,
the fever spike of loss soars ever higher.
Overwhelm has overtaken us.

Of the bereaved, there is no counting.

We have been served up 
an alphabet soup of unbearable bitterness,
variant flavors: delta and omicron thick on our tongues.

We measure our days by the grave distance of 6-foot spacing, 
masks that reveal our wary eyes
gauging the increasing, bewildering distance
from the time when time stopped to the “new normal” that we do not recognize.

We have learned adaptation and resilience.
We have learned that it is possible to reimagine and reschedule everything
but grief.

May we find our way to Makom, the Place
where tears are seen
prayers are heard
and battered hearts find rest.

Ritualwell content is available for free thanks to the generous support of readers like you! Please help us continue to offer meaningful content with a donation today. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Rituals

Shop Ritualwell - Discover unique Judaica products

The Reconstructionist Network

Liturgy Writing for Prayer Leaders

This immersion is for prayer leaders who have some experience writing prayers and want to receive feedback and hone their skills as liturgists in a supportive environment.

Six sessions, starting May 24th

Get the latest from Ritualwell

Subscribe for the latest rituals, online learning opportunities, and unique Judaica finds from our store.