I held you 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. in my arms
a loaf of fragrant bread
a baby scented with other-world sweetness
I cradled your
black-inked letters,
letters overflowing with infinity,
vessels of ancient
murmurs
whispering
secrets in my ear.
And as I dance, I whirl–
centuries blurring,
I cannot stop.
Around I go, whipped
by past images
past tortures
faster and faster
fists and guns
gas and naked
bodies.
I want to stop but I spin
through time
spiraling out of control
into the future.
Finally
my arms pumped with weight,
I clasp
only flames
that singe, and scorch
that sear and
scar.
My Torah is on fire
and my tears,
though my tears cascade
this blaze will not be
subdued.
