When blood of the innocent soaks 
into the earth the land heaves 
up like a woman in labor whose 
child refuses to be born

Jackals no longer howl in the
dark of night, they have become
men walking upright, dying doves
clenched in their bloody fangs 

Daughters & sons of Abraham still lie
bound upon the altar, crying out
Father, Mother, how long, how long,
will you be willing to sacrifice us?

Joy hides her face in shame
sorrow rends his garments in mourning
the scent of burning flesh arises
pleasing only to the Angel of Death

Prophets still cry out in the wilderness,
this is not the fast that I desire.
When the words of YHVH are forgotten
the burning bush will be consumed.

4 comments

1. Meaningful. I do not know what WHVH means.

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   • YHVH represents the four Hebrew letters (yod, hey, vav, hey) that God told Moses was his name. It has been translated as “Yahweh” or “Jehovah,” but my understanding is that no one really knows how it was pronounced. In worship, we use “Adonai” (my Lord) or “HaShem” (the Name) or various other names as a substitute. The name of God was only spoken out loud once a year by the High Priest in the Temple in Jerusalem on Yom Kippur when he went into the most holy spot in the temple to ask forgiveness on behalf of the people.

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2. Thank you Martha and also for the meaningful poem today – Blood off the Innocent . , , May love touch your life every day.
   Rosalee

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   • Thank you, Rosalee. I wish the same for you.

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