Eyes why’d hopin\u2019\u2026<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hopin\u2019 for anything, for something:<\/p>\n
A purpose to be, a reason to believe.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
They look but don\u2019t see; only black-<\/p>\n
And-white flashes of shattered images<\/p>\n
Tear-soaked: Dignity crawling in the gut-<\/p>\n
Ter, soaking coat dragged through muddy<\/p>\n
Puddle, weighing down the frailty that<\/p>\n
Once was upright and proud; Royalty<\/p>\n
Limping over to an alley dumpster, pre-<\/p>\n
Paring a feast fit for a rat off its moldy<\/p>\n
Offerings; Innocence selling itself on<\/p>\n
The corner to the highest bidder and<\/p>\n
The lowest scum; Holiness burning in<\/p>\n
Its own home, spit on by its own children,<\/p>\n
Kicked by its own shoes, buried by its<\/p>\n
Own earth in its own garden \u2013 its very<\/p>\n
Own prayer shawl, a \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0shroud.<\/p>\n
Images flashing; not easy to comprehend and so:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Pupils (and teachers too) blur with watery sadness;<\/p>\n
So sad, too sad and it trembles over the lid, rolls<\/p>\n
Down the cheek in teasing slow-motion, never coming<\/p>\n
To a stop but going further, deeper into parts that do not<\/p>\n
Know inks, letters, words \u2013 and so they shall be and remain<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Silence<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A tear, a rip<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bro\u00a0\u00a0ken<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Curses\u2026 blasphemies\u2026<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Eyes don\u2019t lie<\/p>\n
(Some even say they are visionaries) \u2013<\/p>\n
And from this point of view<\/p>\n
It\u2019s just too hard to look<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Eyes, too tired, close<\/p>\n
Heart, too raw, closes<\/p>\n
So closed, yet so far away\u2026<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
See
\n<\/i><\/p>\n
I present before you today
\n<\/i><\/p>\n
A blessing and a curse<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But how can He?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He Who represents all that is blessed<\/p>\n
And good, holy and pure, true and<\/p>\n
Real \u2013 how can He present before<\/p>\n
Us, to us, within us\u2026<\/p>\n
a curse?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
(Present? Do such presents come gift-<\/p>\n
Wrapped and with an intricate bow?)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
See and be seen:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So many years, slaves, destroyed, wounds<\/p>\n
Dripping, scars never really calloused and<\/p>\n
So our eyes have closed, we have forgotten<\/p>\n
How to see a blessing (and, tell me, who can<\/p>\n
Blame us \u2013 \u2018tis better to see nothing at all than<\/p>\n
To look upon our loved ones hurt and hurting)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Oh, we can still look at facades and borders,<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t worry; it\u2019s just that we have forgotten<\/p>\n
How to see through them and deeper \u2013 we\u2019ve<\/p>\n
Forgotten what purity, holiness looks like.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
O, but have we really forgotten how to see or<\/p>\n
Have we merely closed our eyes, a weary traveler<\/p>\n
Coming to the end of his journey, coming so close<\/p>\n
To home?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
See\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Open your eyes, sweet child, and see through the pain,<\/p>\n
Through the curses and into the joys, the blessings clear<\/p>\n
And lucid everywhere you\u2019d just care to look \u2013 what, do<\/p>\n
You for even an unholy moment think He, He who is Real,<\/p>\n
Who is Reality and Truth, would present us with curses<\/p>\n
Without presenting us first with the flame to uncover their<\/p>\n
Blessings? What is a curse, a challenge, if not G-d saying:<\/p>\n
I believe in you, I trust in you, I know you can take anything<\/p>\n
And make it everything; I know you can take that which may<\/p>\n
Seem like a problem and make it a solution, I know you can<\/p>\n
Look at a broken body and see a complete, always complete<\/p>\n
Soul<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Eyes see whatever we open them to \u2013<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t you think it\u2019s past time we did?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It is a see-through world in which we live.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The only question is:<\/p>\n
What do we see and what do we see through?<\/p>\n