Mark the Day

Mark the Day

Inured to blood and soil, splattered upon by villains for our sins

told to hide in the cleft that His glory might pass by

Hidden in the crevices of history

history we made and which was our due

expelled, denounced,

our betrayals, our idolatry,

castigates us to the last moment

upon us now, the tempest, the manna

these last moments, the air fleet grinding to a halt

the harnesses strip off, velcro rips

propellers whir and slow

the routed, imprisoned, expelled have come trudging back, their spines bent

“Chilul Shabbat! Chilul Shabbat!” echoing

transgressions bounding off cliffs, in caverns, through the Jordan Valley,

besotted but breathing

Exultant now among echoes of “chilul” and “kiddush”

dancers join the circle. Walls are collapsing.

Take the flag and wash it in the sweet-water creek, the one beside the ruins

rebuilt from the shattered stones

Ground the fleet.

Mark the day.