i was taught to bend like a reed
but was planted here,
stiff and unmoved
like a cedar
and from this slanted soul,
jewish worlds did split
pulling all the inhabitants, unbearably, apart
until all that was left was the destruction and the moaning.
but then, in came beauty
that withstood being ugly
and from her, came ink profuse enough to write
a million different endings.
and even a few unexpected beginnings.
(simeon ben eleazar, jacob ben asher…rabbis, yes…but human beings wholly/holy)
Devon Spier 