Rising Poem by gershon hepner

Often when I see the sinking
sun that’s setting in the west
and better men than I start drinking
I start to think of how the best
is over, and recall the east,
where, it seems long ago, I saw
the sun when it began to rise,
and until noon began to soar
above my head in cloudless skies.
I rise with rising of the sun,
but when it sinks I start to fret,
and from its dying rays I run.
I do not wish to see it set,
but wait for something not surprising
which must happen, I feel sure,
a new day with a brand new rising
which for sunset is a cure.

Inspired by “The Rising, ” by Bruce Springsteen, which the NY Times reports has been a fight song for John Edwards in his present Presidential campaign as it was in his campaign for Vice-President in 2004. Its last lines are:

Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight


12/20/07