Where to Go from Here

North? South? East? West?
Where to go from here?

Next step: I know it's coming.
Ready or not, I'll take it.

Close my eyes, clinch my teeth--
Hoping this isn't a ledge.

Here has been my home for so long
That I'm afraid to bid it adieu.

I've loved it here, I really have.
It's so final, that farewell.

But I must get my bags together,
Pack sparingly, efficiently--

This next trip will not be easy;
But it is time. It is time.

Done

That feeling that you get
When the world is not all it should be
That reality you sense
When you realize it's time for a change.

Like it or Love it,
Despair or Despise it,
This Thing is really happening:
The change is impending.

It's been inevitable, hasn't it?
Why is anyone shocked?
(Or was this their intent all along?)
This place is not my home, I sing.

How does the song go...?
Yes, this place is not my home,
I'm just-a passing through...
Through--from This to That.

If only I could see the That.
If only I could know it for myself.
Where am I headed, what shall I do?
Now that it's official: I'm Done.

Blessed Earth

Blessed Earth, 

   You have endured much hardship.

   We have damaged your surface,

   And sucked the life out of you 

   With no apologies for our wrong-doing.

Blessed Earth,

   Our Lord commanded us to

   Tend to you...and we have, instead,

   Abused you with no regard 

   For your future--or our own.

Blessed Earth,

   I'm no philosopher or geologist,

   But I'm certain we are killing you

   And ourselves when we haphazardly

   Poison your waters, your soil, your sky.

Blessed Earth,

   I am but one voice, yet often I pray

   Almighty God will give us mercy

   When He asks us to give an account

   Of how we cared for you.

Blessed Earth,

   I know what we have done to you

   Will not be overlooked...Eventually,

   Even you will not be able to sustain 

   This life as we know it now.

Blessed Earth,

   I will not blame you for what's to come,

   For earthquakes and shortage and war.

   It is not your fault that we are short-sighted.

   You are not the selfish one.

Until All Changed: A Prophecy

They sent their children

To be educated; then,

Those who were able,

Took them elsewhere--

They left in droves;

One family in a hundred,

Then five, then ten.

Many of them went.

And no one said a word.

They left for the traditional--

Schooling as it had been

For multiple generations;

They wanted that for theirs.

Payment for said education

Could not be afforded by all--

So those who could took theirs

And taught them at home.

And no one said a word.

These exoduses costing millions,

One would think there'd be alarm;

Yet on and on they went, no contest,

Not a word from those in charge.

"Miraculously," they were allowed

To segregate themselves

From the rest of society

To preserve their ideologies.

And no one said a word.

Such vacancies allowed them to

Make universal changes they'd desired;

Now no one cared to question

What was being learned and forgotten.

All the while the great schism

Became more pronounced;

Bolder moves were made,

Laws passed, agendas reinforced.

And no one said a word.

Until...All was set in place--

And actions taken, then,

To avenge the defectors--

They were prepared:

Those who didn't return and comply

Were fined, then jailed.  

Those who were vocal died.

And this went on until All Changed.

And no one said a word.

Happy New Year, Brothers!

Happy New Year, Brothers!

If I had a bee hive, I'd dip my

Red, delicious apple in its bounty

And take a bite to honor you.

     Blessed are You, Lord, our God, 

     Sovereign of the universe.

     Who creates the fruit of the vine,

     Who made all things exist through His Word.

Happy New Year, Sisters!

If I could don an apron and

Assist you in the kitchen

On this Holy Day, I would!

    

     Blessed are You, Lord, our God,

     Sovereign of the universe.

     Who has chosen us from among all the people,

     And exalted us above every tongue.

Happy New Year, Siblings!

I think of you on this day,

The day you honor Our Father,

And I pray for your coming year!

     And sanctified us with His commandments, 

     You gave us, Lord our God, with love,

     With love this day of remembrance,

     A day of shofar blowing with love.

Happy New Year, Chosen Ones!

Your steps are Blessed, Forever;

Because your Fathers honored Him.

You are Blessed, Forever, Amen!

     A holy convocation,

     A memorial of the exodus from Egypt.

     Indeed, You have chosen us and 

     Made us holy from all peoples.

Happy New Year, Promised Ones!

He will never forget His Words to you, 

And you have naught to fear 

Because He goes before you.

     And Your Word is true 

     And established for ever.

     Blessed are You, Lord, our God, 

     King over all the world.

Happy New Year, My Family!

Every bright light reminds me

Of your Holy Candles lit now

To remind us of His Light on Earth!

     Who sanctifies the Sabbath and Israel 

     And the Day of Remembrance.  Amen.

-------------------------------

In honor of His people and their celebration:

Rosh Hashanah, 2015