AT THE WELL
we are beauty born
READ MOREMiriam, my daughter
who first opened my womb
turning me into a mother,
I named you for the sea
I’d never seen,
Va’yidabair Adonai el Miriam-
where are the books of Miriam
recording the teachings visions stories
the people retold and passed on
to their daughters and sons?
Remember
you are born through water,
Tell the story
as if you were once
slaves in Egypt,
as if you were once
the chosen children
of the High Priest
on the eighth day,
and so at long last
this is my offering
commanded from fire and mountain
cleft of rock, an inner
whispering roar
a command
is heard as
if an inner call –
always bring salt
to your offerings
gathered from
sea and tears.
We arrive
the women
who serve
Sacred Presence
moved by our hearts
You say look: there is a hawk and I hear
a fierce winged seeking. You say see
a lady slipper and we pause
in recognition of what survives.
READ MOREWe rise
for the ancient prayer
for the dead
a pathway back
for the living,