Return Each Year to Test the Ancient Waters

September 20, 2017

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. This week’s theme is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which begins this evening, September 20. The ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) are a time when one’s repentance may affect whether one is written into the book of life or the book of death for the coming year.

Today’s poem is a Rosh Hashanah poem about those who come to synagogue only for the High Holy Days.

I welcome comments on my poems at https://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Return each year to test the ancient waters,

Opening the unaccustomed heart.

So may you retain a Jewish soul,

Having given it its yearly outing.

Here your parents meet your sons and daughters,

A junction wrought by well-established art,

Severing the person from the role,

Having scripted thoroughly the routing.

All you're left with is what really matters,

Needing, to be whole, to be a part,

At least this once a year a Jew of old,

Holy in this place despite your doubting.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at https://www.poemsforfree.com/return.html. For more poems for Rosh Hashanah, go to https://www.poemsforfree.com/yomkippurpoems.html .

This week’s theme: Rosh Hashanah

September 18: Righteousness Ought Not Be for One’s Self

September 19: Remember the Utility of Shame

September 20: Return Each Year to Test the Ancient Waters