no sunlight, no healing
out here in the promised land
out here in the promised land
10 helpless clay-baked goloms are bathed
10 helpless clay-baked goloms are bathed
in thick, clean Dead Sea mud,
in thick, clean Dead Sea mud,
while Nazarath weddings blast saxophones and accordions just up the road,
while Nazarath weddings blast saxophones and accordions just up the road,
and the passion of a hundred Tzfat hora dancers
and the passion of a hundred Tzfat hora dancers
toast with the other tribes
toast with the other tribes
all the while beckoning to Haifa salt Mediterranean scholars
all the while beckoning to Haifa salt Mediterranean scholars
hustling Haggadahs on shakedown Ramalah Rumla Reza Street
hustling Haggadahs on shakedown Ramalah Rumla Reza Street
out here in the promised land
out here in the promised land
while holy Jerusalem nods to this music or to the maternal knowing,
while holy Jerusalem nods to this music or to the maternal knowing,
Mt. Bental’s brilliant sparks of light effervesce the night sky,
Mt. Bental’s brilliant sparks of light effervesce the night sky,
opalescing enlightened orange and date trees,
opalescing enlightened orange and date trees,
while Be’er Sheva’s golden desert doors
while Be’er Sheva’s golden desert doors
and Tel Aviv’s hip hoppers down on Contemporary Road
and Tel Aviv’s hip hoppers down on Contemporary Road
harvest and garland yelloworange buttercups and purple pansies
harvest and garland yelloworange buttercups and purple pansies
waving the bouquets up and back down these consecrated roads,
waving the bouquets up and back down these consecrated roads,
where yarmulked children hopscotch way past midnight
where yarmulked children hopscotch way past midnight
innocent in pigtails and peyus
innocent in pigtails and peyus
their paisley sneakers swinging,
their paisley sneakers swinging,
where bees become birds
where bees become birds
become cherry trees
become cherry trees
become exquisite, tender offerings
become exquisite, tender offerings
sharing salutary bonds etched in stone:
sharing salutary bonds etched in stone:
“all this is bestowed upon my people…
“all this is bestowed upon my people…
the tears and the laughter of thousands of years
the tears and the laughter of thousands of years
endless sunlight to forever heal
endless sunlight to forever heal
malachite and shekels
malachite and shekels
oil and olives
oil and olives
dates dipped in tahini
dates dipped in tahini
honey dripping from pregnant rosebuds
honey dripping from pregnant rosebuds
and chipped austere cups brimming with cool sweet water”
and chipped austere cups brimming with cool sweet water”
6/23/2018
6/23/2018