Standing Next To Me

Standing Next To Me

It’s not so much forgiveness
I long for
It’s not teshuvah
Transformation
It’s relationship

It’s standing with –

Great is teshuvah
because it brings
healing to the world – Resh Lakish

I asked Resh Lakish
What is it
I am yearning for
right now?

It’s not teshuvah
transformation
it’s standing next to me

Standing next to me
it’s nextism
withism
in the sacred tongue
ee-tee
with-oot
ee-toot [Exodus 33:21]

Next to me
wrapped in a prayer of fringes
wrapped in a shawl of light –

Healing said Resh Lakish
that’s what you’re yearning for

Don’t
let that become
a cliché.