Modah Ani for the New Year

by Cathleen Cohen

For Carol

When her feet touch floorboards

each morning, my friend says

thank you, a prayer

taught by her mother, a Hasid, who swirled

in clouds of words,

in constant exchange with God.

Each day, touching

holy ground.

She urges me to try it,

especially these days, biblical

with plagues, storms and signs

I can’t decipher,

intense weather, news alerts,

fears, one after another.

My feet touch sloping floors,

a faltering house

built of wormwood and dust.

So I whisper modah ani,

not melech. There are no kings

I trust, only ruakhLit. Spirit. Some new versions of blessings call God "Spirit of the World" (Ruakh Ha’olam), rather than "King of the World" (Melekh Ha'olam)., spirit

moving and enduring.

As I must,

climbing the mountainous day,

searching for glimpses, a feeling

I’m seen

through this thin blue lens,

soft air

caressing my face.

Posted in Month of Elul, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur
gratitude, morning blessings

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