Minche Poem by Judith R. Robinson

Minche

Listen to the drone
a blood-pulse chant:
repeat sway repeat
century after century

whispers cries pleas
salt tears
throat dry
breath stinging, catching, begging!

Hashem! Shade us shelter us
beneath Your leafy fig tree
favor us free us forgive us
our terrible hungers:
the flesh lust
the gold lust
the worship of light
terror of dark

We are the righteous
the believers!
We are the dust
but not just the dust
for You we wash our frail bodies clean
for You we kneel here and pant:

Oh Maker of all
our dead
You
whom we adore, fear, tremble
before, implore:
keep us
one more hour
another day
even as we
plead to join
You
in Paradise.

We praise only You
King of Kings
Beseech
You: Smite the others, but:
Great Lord God Almighty
Save us, save us, save us!