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Original Poetry by Kesher Israel Committee Members

03/29/2022 12:12:27 PM

Mar29

Members of our Kesher Israel Committee shared these beautiful poems at our Kesher Shabbat last October.  

Noah Looked Up  
by Ellen Meyer 

Noah looked up 
from the ark he just built 
God’s good sun  
could still write covenants  
in the sunset.

There was still no deluge. 
The captured beasts  
were waiting 
for the storm. 

They stomped and brayed, buzzed or bellowed.  
Birds strutted  
their vain plumage in iridescent rituals 

and the wicked down below 
shook off their clothes 
and called for Noah, the pious fool  
to dance with them. 

Noah asked his Creator 
where is the flood? 
Why is the earth still 
parched and dry 
as the worried moon? 
 
But in the morning 
the clouds did come 
carried in God’s arms, 
thick as burnt offerings.  
Nostrils sniffed rain, sweet and terrifying. 

Floating fathoms above 
the drowned and drowning  
Noah asked his wife 
Why the children? 

© Ellen Meyer. Please do not reproduce without permission.


Noah and his Ark 
by Laurel Hefty 

Noah and his Ark rebuild a broken world 
Utnapishtim opens a vent to find sunlight after a flood and releases a dove 
The Shujing’s Emperor Yao faces a flood that reaches the heavens 
Manu, warned by an incarnation of Vishnu, builds his ark 
The spider protecting people when Sotuknang flooded the earth  

They listen, prepare and 
Take a leap of faith 
They rise above the chaos 
To create a better world 

A universal concept to remake the world 
A chance to wash away the sins  
Against ourselves, those we know, strangers 
Against the very earth we stand upon 

Find the sunlight and release the dove. 
Shielded by wood and spider silk we support each other 
And take a leap of faith to rebuild a broken world 

© Laurel Hefty. Please do not reproduce without permission.

April 18, 2024 10 Nisan 5784