Poetry on the bimah
Poetry On The Bimah June 2020
This poem was written by Wilfrid Noyce after he ascended Mt Everest on May 23, 1953. But this poem breathes me awake in June 2020, as we are beginning to just take small steps forward, as we attempt to catch our breaths as the pandemic eases or so we pray.
Breathless
Heart aches, Must look up,
lungs pant glasses dim.
dry air Wrench of hand,
sorry, scant, faltering limb
Legs lift— Pause one step,
why at all? breath swings back;
Loose drift, swallow once,
heavy fall. throat gone slack.
Prod the snow Go on
easiest way; to far stone;
a flat step don’t look up,
is holiday. count steps done.
Look up, One step,
far stone one heart beat,
many miles stone no nearer
far, alone. dragging feet.
Grind breath Heart aches,
once more then on; lungs pant
don’t look up dry air
till journey’s done. sorry, scant.
Wilfrid Noyce
Perhaps the mountain we climbed during this pandemic was not Mt Everest, but the dangers and the stresses were real. Our hearts ached for one another and for the human beings who struggled in horrible panic and pain to take breath. We had to keep reminding ourselves not to “look up” which is code for don’t look too far forward into the unknown; remember to patiently grind out one more breath; remember not to falter in fear. We had to remind ourselves to count steps done….was there an easy way? “Grind breath once more then on…count steps done…one step, one heart-beat, stone no nearer.” Who was with you when you were dragging yourself along during this time; when you felt helpless, when you couldn’t recognize your own life? How did you shelter during this time on the mountain? I often opened Tehillim, the Book of Psalms, which anciently gifts us with strength for the road. My soul is quiet, Awaiting G-d. Psalm 62:2 For with You is the Source of Life, in Your light, we see light. Psalm 36:10 Shiviti HaShem I place G-d always before me. Psalm 16:8 You are my safe place, my refuge…(You say) I will enlighten you and teach you on which path you should walk; I shall counsel you for My eye is upon you. Psalm 32:7, 8
Rabbi Stephanie S. Aaron
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