Repentance: A Poem for Yom Kippur

The transgression departs like an iceberg off the stern

its mark, dark-stained scratched

across the wronged

across the World

across our foreheads.

With this coal miner’s lamp

we grovel, grimy, swaying a tainted light

through the tunnels of our time, our misery.

Fixed by that bright spot

sounding

our leprosy before it is revealed:

“Unclean!”

We huff and heave the load ahead

with words seen, then heard:

“Out out damn light!”

Through that mark on our crown

seen, heard,

in that tenable light, the headlamp

diminished but throbbing

we beam our scratched scrolls of remorse

unto our friend, and unto our Firmament.