Underneath (For Selichot)

 

Blessed Holy Wholeness,

During the month of Elul we ponder and remember,

An illusion of thoughtfulness,

Because underneath the meek apologies lie

Obsession

Resentment 

And embarrassments that do 

Whatever it is that

Hate

Lies 

And ignorance do 

To help us create the past. 

During the Shmita year the field lies fallow, 

An illusion of rest,

Because underneath the lumpy dirt lie

Microbes 

And worms

And burrowing creatures that do

Whatever it is that

Tefillah 

Tzedukah 

And Teshuvah do

To help us create the future.  

We’re sorry, blessed One-ness, 

But

On Selichot,

After this time of fear and wild hope,

We may not be able to

Find room in our hearts 

For the haters and the liars and the idiots. 

But

On Erev Rosh Hashanah,

In honor of the coming Shmita year,

We might still find

There is room in our hearts

For microbes and worms and maybe a gopher or two. 

Amen

(Drawing ©  Mike Cockrill)