Today’s Lenten Meditation
A-Poem-a-Day
Until Resurrection Day
 |
| Grafted In symbol |
I’M NOT JEWISH
except that the sap
which rises
from sturdy old olive roots
flows through the veins
of this grafted branch
I’m not Jewish
except for my flesh
which still shudders
at the Shoah
(of sisters and brothers
of the natural branch)
and the same root
and swears
I’d have done something...
something
I’m not Jewish
except for my feet
which have walked
the holy, well-worn pathways
in Eretz Yisrael
except for my fingertips
which pressed petitions
between stones
of the Western Wall
except for my ears
which perk to the cantor’s
chanting of the Shema
the Aaronic Benediction
the Kiddush
over bread and wine
except for my eyes
which look
upon the Lamb,
my Atonement
except for my lips
which chant
ancient baruchas
to HaShem
I’m not Jewish
except for my heart
which bears the cloven mark
of circumcision
and loves Yeshua,
the Jewish Messiah
Who was pierced
for my transgressions
Who shed
His precious Jewish Blood
for me
Maude Carolan
The above poem won the 3rd place prize for poetry at the 2010 St. Catherine of Bologna Festival of the Arts held annually in Ringwood, New Jersey.
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