curved against my hip
like meat cleaving
to my gleaming white bones
I felt her enter into my
pelvis, twining her spirit with mine
twisting hope out of me
When she whispered
"You are MINE"
I knew she possessed me
I chanted
"Hear O' Israel"
I sang
"Whoever dwells in the shelter
of the most high
will rest in the shadow of
the Almighty"
But to no avail
She had found her twin
Frailties and flaws
Pain and illness
Her ghostly sins and mine
Mixed with rue and
the mud of our history
interwoven between
there and here
No, she would not leave
until she chose to
(Was there an Ibbur to save me?)
What is your name???!!
Only to be answered
by sand and salt
rubbing into my wounds
You see, only I could
set myself free
but once her presence
was banished
what would fill the void?
So I keep hidden
in the shadows of my home
afraid to step into the sunlight
Expose what I had become
What I have always been
For she and I are sewn together
with blood and marrow
and feathers torn from doves
Night after night
In the darkness of my dreams
I see her serpent hair and green skin
I dream of flame trees in the desert
as I hear her chant my discretions
one by one
Day after day
I feel her mock
my efforts to free myself
for she knows they are half-hearted
Psalm after psalm
I falsely beg heaven and earth
to free me
My sins increasing with
each empty utterance
Until finally one day I can no longer bear
the burden of my ways
I seek true forgiveness
and freedom
I seek to set myself free
Raphael
Raphael
Raphael
I should not have harmed you
I should not have harmed you
I should not have harmed you
You harmed not should I
You harmed not should I
You harmed not should I
Break her grasp on me
Break my grasp on her
Break me
And then....please....heal me
************************************
(This poem is based on ancient Jewish beliefs of demons and how to rid oneself of them. Inspired by a historical/biblical fiction novel I am reading and my love of Judaism. Thankfully, this is NOT autobiographical.)
Love this. Thank you for sharing! The idea of discussing any sort of literature via poetry is fantastic. The imagery of the demon reminds me of Medusa. Keep writing! C:
ReplyDeleteActually....one of the Jewish demons is VERY similar to Medusa.
ReplyDeleteThank you...hope you are well AND writing!
Powerful words, touching the heart. Thank you for your gift of message. Sending love Michelle.
ReplyDeleteLove to you and yours, Karen.
DeleteDark; with images of light waves.Flickering from the burning trees? Or your own fluttering wings?
ReplyDeleteBrienna, It's been such a long time since we discussed poetry...it's lovely to hear from you. I hope all is well and thank you for your awesome comment here. Hugs.
DeleteI've missed reading you <3 <3
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it. Hope all is well, Brian.
DeleteFascinating and inspiring as always, Michelle. I still write poetry, remembering what you taught me on gather many years ago. Thank you for alerting me to your new writing; I have missed reading you. As regards to Judaism, have you read 'A Wholly Life' by Moshe Kaplan? I'm trying to get hold of it at the moment. Take care! xxx
ReplyDeleteNo, I haven't, but I will look for it. Good to hear from you!!!! Hugs.
ReplyDelete