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.