Shabbat creeps up on my week,
With the tenacity of a zealous bride,
Dusk falls into the candlelight
As a divine flickering shadow play
Along the chambers of my mind,
The world around me quietens
With a sudden intake of breath,
And, when the doors of my heart open,
She gladdens me with her insistence,
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Her beauty disarms my impatience
Until my soul’s frenetic beating stops,
Under the canopy, I dine with the Moabite, Ruth,
Moses overstuffs me with instruction,
The prophets bring me visions of wonder,
David reminds me why I love words,
I see my beloved’s finery
And remember why I welcome her in,
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Through the morning blessings
My eyes will open, anew, to the hills,
I have forsaken my silly scornful manner,
Instead, I thank her for intervening,
For imposing herself into the humdrum
Of less meaningful chores,
My gratitude, in a litany, calls me back
To join with the source of all life.
