Divine wisdom,
Please show me how
To breathe
When the smell of hatred
Is hot and dank against my cheek
Blowing across the country
From my childhood home.
To walk
Into a synagogue today
In Los Angeles
When Squirrel Hill,
Sweet shtetl that raised me,
Is no longer safe.
To look
Into the eyes of my students and colleagues,
Friends and strangers
In solidarity with what they
Have always known
In shame for having forgotten
To grieve
The litany of losses
Private and public
Named and unnamable
Across the whole wide wailing world
Without crumbling to dust.
To plant
Flowers, when bullets rain
Words to bandage wounds
Hope, when shadows grow
Long and dark across our faces
Faith that dawn will come
To act
As a bridge
A balm
A beacon,
A source of healing in the dark
Please show me how to add
To the sum of light
When the night looms so large
And my one flame
so small.
© Deborah Edler Brown, October 28, 2018
Image of the Full Moon courtesy of Daniel Rizzuti at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Deborah Edler Brown 
From you lips to God’s ears
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
Thank you, Gary. ❤
Whew! This is powerful and it affected me greatly. Thanks, Deb.
Thank you, Ruth. Miss you!
Nice Deb, My Mom grew up there as well. Sad world where no one is safe whether on right, or left, middle, religious, agnostic, capatalist, socialist, rich, poor, white, black, male, female, old, young…… foriegn, domestic, human, animal………. For me holding my loved ones tight every minute possible in gratitude, forgiveness, tollerance and love about all I can do, and so I do. Sending you an abraco…. Andito
Get Outlook for Android
________________________________
Holding one another tightly and spreading as much light as possible, my friend. Abracos back your way
God be with you and speak through all of your voices.Hearts of comfort and love sent your way. May your grief turn to joy after the mourning.
Thank you, Genice, for your kind words and gentle blessings.
Ah, Deborah, your words help heal all these terrifying wounds. It’s a great poem, casting light into the dark. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Oh Peggy, thank you! Looking for light wherever I can. Thank you for receiving it that way.
Beautiful, Deb. Mature and measured, yet real and unafraid to tell the truth. Thank you.
Thank you, Dave! It means a lot.
Deb, Thank you for speaking the words so many of us have been looking for. Your work always touches my soul. This poem helps me to feel I am not alone in my grief and sadness.
Oh Tara, thank you! You are not alone at all. Sending gentleness your way!
Thank you dear Deb, for bringing heart to the darkness.
Thank you, Deena. Your words mean so much to me. ❤