MARCO SOUNDS THE SHOFAR
Israel Pilgrimage—2006
Marco
bought a shofar in Galilee—
a
long and spiraled Yemenite shofar
made
from the horn
of
a kudo antelope
With
a deep and steady breath
Marco
blows its harrowing thunder
over
the Mount of Olives
the
Western Wall
the
Jordan River
and
just about every site
we
visit in holy Zion
trumpeting
its long distinctive wail
to
jolt us from our complacency—
Wake up!
Warning
all hearers:
Prepare! Repent!
Wake up! Oh Sleepers—
Wake up! and follow the
Lord, your God!
Anne
brought her tambourine
from
New Jersey—
It’s
shaped like a Star of David
Colorful
ribbons stream
from
its six points
Like
Miriam, Anne lifts it high
and
dances with delight
praising
Adonai with worshipful women
from
all over the world
as
their swirling skirts sweep the ground
It’s
Shabbat, in Jerusalem
at
the Western Wall
and
I bought a tallit in Tiberius—
blue
and white like the Israeli flag
with
knotted fringes in the corners
to
remind me God’s promises are true
a
traditional prayer shawl
to
wrap snuggly around my shoulders
like
God’s loving arms
enfolding
me
as
I pray
Maude
Carolan Pych
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