The world rests on three things... [Hebrew cross-stitch]

"Simeon the Righteous says that the world rests on three things: On Torah, on avodah ("service", worship), and g'meelut chasadim--acts of loving kindness."

Each of the panels represents one of these things.  On the pattern which I made, I originally had candles as the picture on the 'avodah' (service/worship) panel but I didn't think they would look right so I changed it to a needle and thread (since this whole stitching project was kind of an act of 'worship') and music, since music plays a big part in my 'religious life'.

The Hebrew alphabet template came from the Six Million Stitches Project.

Untitled

I am flooded with words.
My conscience likes none of them.

My thoughts don't move in sentences,
only in downpourings, outpourings,
with flashes of clarity,

but the rumble of distraction
and thunderclap excuses
deafen me
while I continue to
drift,
mute.

It seems that
I have more misdirection
than a crooked oar,
and my boat
holds more weight in dead lizards
than it holds in penitence.

I can only hope that
this year,
once again,
I will be washed

ashore.

Inspired by Yom Kippur - 'Day of Atonement' - 2013.

Dialogue of Hundreds

Hypocrisy rests on indignant mindsets,
Smelted in the fire of irate documentaries
Which replace the footage of our conscience
And our recognition of mirrored narratives.

There lies deception in belief.
The evidence is dressed in silk,
Veiling our hyper-ordinary struggle
With our own damning limits.

We change out of our Sunday personalities
And into our designer reputations
Just in time for the Monday missives
That will milk the print.

Best of Manchester Poets: Volume 3

...is now available to buy here!

Here's my contribution:

The Small Matter of Nothing Else Mattering

minute
and still
you intensify existence
and cause all creation to shine
with one liberated atom
on a sigh barely breathed
my tiny world becomes boundless
if you are scattered to the wind
i shall follow your compass
and within the confines
of this one brightened soul
will rest
infinity

Championship cupcakes!

...as in, cupcakes to celebrate the Phoenix winning the Playoffs, not championship-winning cupcakes. None of my cooking would ever win anything, ever.