As the day draws closer
my thoughts muddle, would
the Day of Pardon consider
my choice of offering, inner
reflection, for the slaughter
and the dashing blood?

Since birth the tassels
of the talit swing between
the poles of the Ha-Aaron,
leading the way into the
forest of symbols, basking
in its sheltering revelations.

As I light the yiskor candles
I hear piyyutim from the bowl
of the earth, think of the angels;
no enmity among  them.

The verse from Sefer Tehillim,
“a man [is] slightly less than
the angels” surely has been
lost in translation as I’m lured
by the Three Trees tempted
to taste   Birth   Life   Death.

Enfolded in awe, I pace
the synagogue’s steps ready
to invoke the shofar’s tekiot
as it weave loops of ashamnu
brought forth by hearty viduyyim
belted in sanctified writings.

O' God, hear my pardon,
Amen Ve Amen - Strike!

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Michal Mahgerefteh is an award-winning poet and artist. She is the publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Poetica Magazine, Reflections of Jewish Thought, www.poeticamagazine.com Her debut poetry collection, In My Bustan is now available through her web site, www.michalmahgerefteh.com.

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