Rosh Ha-Shanah

Rosh Ha-Shanah

Rosh Ha-Shanah

New Year

New moon of Tishri

Dawning darkly

First stars

Sparkling pathways

From the past

Into the future

Hinneini

Here I am

Standing on the threshold

Of the new year

Ready

But

Retreating

T’shuvah?

I turn back from the brink

Sarah’s laughter

Ringing in my ears

New life?

New beginning?

Is it possible?

And then

In the desert

Of those questions

Hagar’s eyes

Opening mine

Forcing me

To turn around again

Pressing me

To look forward

To gaze into the landscape

Beyond

To see

Wells of water

In the wilderness

Hinneini

Here I am

Standing on the threshold

Of the new year

Ready

To begin

Again

For me?

Published in:

Machzor Ruach Chadashah. Services for the Days of Awe. Liberal Judaism, London, 2003, p. 39.