I just came off
an Orthodox site
then felt this hollow
invading my night
Some do believe
they're so damn well clever
living in dreams
the ancients can't sever
And I think of my father
gone seven years soon
and his Hebrew necklace
I wear 'neath the moon
I take it off now
feel a place in me lift
closer to G-d
I mended the rift
The one that screams out
'tween Jew and the gist
an Arab, a Christian
a true anarchist
I know we're related
I felt her back then
you can read all you like
if you will; practice Zen
Darwin saw so much
he breathed evolution
posited truth
common mother solution
They label me Jewish
I have to doubt my sanity
for I am a monkey
my species: humanity
If you decipher my poem
you may verily see
there's something within us
eternity
We are partners in life
all of us here
no religion a boundary
just face it: we fear
A Jew equals Gentile
a Gentile a Jew
together they're siblings
in a world we outgrew
For I am a monkey
For I am a monkey
Last edited by Boss on Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
'In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer' - Albert Camus
Hi Adam ~
I'm moved by this poem and especially so by these two verses:
~ Lizzy
I'm moved by this poem and especially so by these two verses:
Were that everyone able to do what you did. I'm glad you were.And I think of my father
gone seven years soon
and his Hebrew necklace
I wear 'neath the moon
I take it off now
feel a place in me lift
closer to G-d
I mended the rift
Profoundly true.If you decipher my poem
you may verily see
there's something within us
eternity
We are partners in life
all of us here
no religion a boundary
just face it: we fear
A Jew equals Gentile
a Gentile a Jew
together they're siblings
in a world we outgrew
~ Lizzy
Hi Adam
After I read your poem earlier, I had to come back to it. It struck and touched my soul.
Quote:
"If you decipher my poem
you may verily see
there's something within us
eternity
We are partners in life
all of us here
no religion a boundary
just face it: we fear"
I am struck by the words "if you decipher...you may verily see"
Here I have to come back to the topic of if we humans only were able to decipher, to see, to recognize..
the other thing was the fear. We fear!
So true.
Adam, thanks for posting it. I think you are a great poet.
Katrin[/quote]
After I read your poem earlier, I had to come back to it. It struck and touched my soul.
Quote:
"If you decipher my poem
you may verily see
there's something within us
eternity
We are partners in life
all of us here
no religion a boundary
just face it: we fear"
I am struck by the words "if you decipher...you may verily see"
Here I have to come back to the topic of if we humans only were able to decipher, to see, to recognize..
the other thing was the fear. We fear!
So true.
Adam, thanks for posting it. I think you are a great poet.
Katrin[/quote]
Thanks Katrin,
I ain't no great poet though. I battle on.
I wrote the following post to some stalwarts of the Orthodox forum. I hope they are broad minded enough to read it through. I thank Lizzy's insight for helping me amend this piece
What we know is minimal, ensnared as we are in our ideological comfort zones. Often we cannot touch G-d for we cannot breathe in our cramped little spaces. We classify Him into a predictable system. And while this may suit our ideation, it contravenes reality. Why can't we envisage that He is broader than our rules, our interpretation? Our voices are often lopsided - tinged in rigid authority and closed mindedness. So many of us believe these words to be sacrosanct; we have nothing else. We know not the garden which sustains us, which beckons every moment with color, with life.
For isn't it so that the wellspring of existence knows all; a Hindu in Calcutta, a Christian in Rome, a Buddhist in Tibet and a Muslim in Gaza. And doesn't this lifeblood give and take as it so desires? There is no distinction between the love of an Arab and the love of a Jew. Each will die having tasted sweet nectar and bitterness, the ambiguous nature of life. Each will instruct their children, each will digest a sunset.
And if we think a time draws near for a messiah who will satisfy the needs primarily of the children of Jacob; we are mistaken. For he who is here now knows that all the children of Noah are of his concern. And as so many avatars (both Jew and non-Jew) would attest to; he will be despised. A man ridiculed and turned aside. A man the critics will not laud, but rebuke. He shall contest or ignore them. And their callous words and deeds shall wound, shall cut into, his core. Still, some will bombastically yell out, "We know him not. He is accursed." The crowd will hush. And he will continue on speaking against oppression, against wealth.
I do not expect to see this post survive. The contents contrast too much from the norm. Just know that every human being on this planet has fundamental rights. When you are born into a particular niche it is only through the vagaries of chance. It does not give anyone the right to assume exclusivity. We are different; each and every one of us. We should celebrate it in ritual, we should dance.
And never pretend to know G-d's mystery.
I ain't no great poet though. I battle on.
I wrote the following post to some stalwarts of the Orthodox forum. I hope they are broad minded enough to read it through. I thank Lizzy's insight for helping me amend this piece
What we know is minimal, ensnared as we are in our ideological comfort zones. Often we cannot touch G-d for we cannot breathe in our cramped little spaces. We classify Him into a predictable system. And while this may suit our ideation, it contravenes reality. Why can't we envisage that He is broader than our rules, our interpretation? Our voices are often lopsided - tinged in rigid authority and closed mindedness. So many of us believe these words to be sacrosanct; we have nothing else. We know not the garden which sustains us, which beckons every moment with color, with life.
For isn't it so that the wellspring of existence knows all; a Hindu in Calcutta, a Christian in Rome, a Buddhist in Tibet and a Muslim in Gaza. And doesn't this lifeblood give and take as it so desires? There is no distinction between the love of an Arab and the love of a Jew. Each will die having tasted sweet nectar and bitterness, the ambiguous nature of life. Each will instruct their children, each will digest a sunset.
And if we think a time draws near for a messiah who will satisfy the needs primarily of the children of Jacob; we are mistaken. For he who is here now knows that all the children of Noah are of his concern. And as so many avatars (both Jew and non-Jew) would attest to; he will be despised. A man ridiculed and turned aside. A man the critics will not laud, but rebuke. He shall contest or ignore them. And their callous words and deeds shall wound, shall cut into, his core. Still, some will bombastically yell out, "We know him not. He is accursed." The crowd will hush. And he will continue on speaking against oppression, against wealth.
I do not expect to see this post survive. The contents contrast too much from the norm. Just know that every human being on this planet has fundamental rights. When you are born into a particular niche it is only through the vagaries of chance. It does not give anyone the right to assume exclusivity. We are different; each and every one of us. We should celebrate it in ritual, we should dance.
And never pretend to know G-d's mystery.
Last edited by Boss on Fri Oct 20, 2006 3:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
'In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer' - Albert Camus
I'd need to visit that site to really know, but I feel I can imagine it, regardless. I agree with much, even most, of what you've said here, Adam. The only part that concerns me is that you seem to be totally and harshly discounting them, in the same way you appear to feel that they are totally and harshly discounting you. I feel an absolute dichotomy in it. Do they really pretend to know G~d's mystery. Most of the Christians I've known seem to be awed by it, though some do portend to know exactly what G~d is doing and why. For example, a certain sense of that has subsided as the Iraq War has dragged on ad infinitum with many, innocent deaths.
~ Lizzy
~ Lizzy
Dear Lizzy,
When it comes to Humanity I offer this universal dichotomy: Some know they are wounded, others don't.
And that is okay; they sleep for just a little time longer until the breath of Life reveals that we all live in union, we all know the religion Humanity and we all see freedom. Just a little time longer. Just a push.
Adam
When it comes to Humanity I offer this universal dichotomy: Some know they are wounded, others don't.
And that is okay; they sleep for just a little time longer until the breath of Life reveals that we all live in union, we all know the religion Humanity and we all see freedom. Just a little time longer. Just a push.
Adam