Send Somebody
Send him send him send me —
From the narrows I call G-d
G-d answers me with expansiveness —
What did two know
that another ten did not?
Twelve are sent out
Was it safe?
I don’t know.
The other ten were certain
There are giants in the Land –
Scared the hell out of us.
One took a side trip
he went to Hevron
prayed on the graves of his ancestors
and from that drew strength
to be optimistic —
He told his friend.
Now we are optimists, they said
to no one in particular
[but I was there]
What’s an optimist? I asked.
One who fails with enthusiasm —
all my negativity flew away
then and now.
jsg, usa
Small alef; poetry Shelach
Maqam* Hijaz
D [1/2] E-flat [1] F# [1/2] G
*a maqam is a musical figure, ,
a modal form, cognate of the Hebrew Makom,
signifying place.
Each Shabbat has a maqam associated with it.