ָAvodah / דברים רבה (פרשת דברים) יחזקאל ט"ז

אביב תשע''ג
Spring 2013

Avodah

Temple wood

alabaster thrones

a golden hot sun tent

where women

of baobab skin

pour myrrh water

into copper basins for

the gods to enjoy

.their supreme reflections

.Abraham twists and writhes

In the beginning

G-d dropped boiling rain upon the earth

asking for apologies

.burning red patches on children's bellies

The call to worship

.echoes in the steam of our anger

דברים רבה (פרשת דברים) יחזקאל ט"ז

A baby in blood

sucking the nectar

of blooming flowers

swadled in a field

blazing yellow bright

she coos and cries until

a flock of ewes

bejeweled

.trot single-file to her call

With water they wash her

Divine oil tickled her belly

.anointing her nakedness

Women

clamping their teeth down on wooden spoons

disperse all their love and faith

into the field

רבבה כצמח השדה נתתיך

they pray that Gd will heal their wombs

that angels, tender still

.will sing Yocheved's lonely lullaby