The sun is scorching as ever here
high heaven keeping watch from above
date palms swaying gently in the breeze
and paper flowers adorn the
walls and fences

a flock of mountain goats makes its way across the
asphalt in the shimmering heat

I glimpse the ocean and the beach
beneath a Boeing coming in to land
far beyond the checkpoints

young forests cover the mountains,
their holy names commanding reverence
kilometer-long banana plantations
stand like field brigades along the road

she carries her automatic weapon, as is her custom

I see the Torah sticking out of her back pocket
prophetic voices of the millennia
from the cradle, ingrained into the rest that remains
under the proud skin of ploughing youth, scarred
by insidious ambush and betrayal

the land yields much beneath their hands;
quiet and compliant it bears the grain

the heavens hold water until the end
to baptize it all on the brink of Sheol
in the fullness of time for Shabbat

In that day the coastlands shall be gathered together
balls of fire will rain over crops and homes
this little nation shall hold its breath
and search vengefully through the Torah

"Be still and know that I am God"

then they will finally turn their faces
toward the loving Friend they never knew
and with beating hearts will look into the eyes
of Him who took their scorn

on that day, they shall fully know
that He is their Shalom

June 2021