voices at sunset

Posted: October 29, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Bible, Judaism, Lech Lecha, Poetry, Religion, Torah Commentary | 4 Comments

as the sun was about to set god said
fear not abram i will protect
you and your reward shall be very
great i will return you to your
fathers in peace and you shall be
buried by your sons at
a ripe old age
the sun sank still lower and
abram heard a low voice whispering
know that your children will be
strangers in a strange land
enslaved and oppressed but when
their pain pierces the heavens
i will execute harsh judgement
upon the ones they serve
i will bring them to this land
and dislodge its inhabitants
to make way for you
when the sun disappeared a great
black dread descended
upon on him like birds of
prey alighting upon a
freshly slaughtered
sacrifice

(Genesis 15:1, 11-20)

Avram and Sarai Take Their Leave

Posted: November 2, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Bible, Lech Lecha, Poetry, Torah Commentary | 2 Comments

you must
go leave your
native land leave behind all
you know all you
have all you
love shatter everything your
father holds sacred your mother’s desperate
hopes and dreams crazy shards
flying up pinwheeling like sparks spinning
off a sacrificial
fire go beyond leap into the
dark to a place you do
not know and maybe never will
offer up your trust like
a writhing bleating newborn
lamb on the altar yes go and seek
your blessing find your place among the families
of the earth you really think you’re so
different what makes you so
special

(Genesis 12:1-3)