Deuteronomy Cycle Two 21:16 to 25:18 Ki Thetze

Ki Thetze
(a poem)

As you
singular
wage a war around
and around, you singular will capture
His captives and you singular will desire the Shechinah who
is around among the scorched land and the
thirsty. You may pluck her out of His
ashes and smoke
and make
her yours
singular.
As you in your
yearning and purification wipe out the pulse
the mud and the muscle of fear to find hidden head between knees hair on lips
tears ripping cheeks a beautiful woman…and if the light is ringing in her eyes and her hair
is golden and in twirls around and around, her nails golden,
you may pluck her from the
corners of the field.
You
singular
may soothe-nurse her
and blow the simple light into her mouth. First
clean the cells that touched the war, the out-lying premises .
Inner tears must wash through her in time. And remember you were once pulled
yourself by the song of the shofar, cut loose from the howls of Mitzrayim. And you went
out and she comes out from your coming out. Say yes twenty seven times
around and around. Say no forty eight. Pull her out. Watch earth
posessions human moments tongues
that rape and masks
that confuse.
Only act to pull her out.
There are ways.
Remember
them.
And may you plural collect the twirls
hanging from your linen or silk mirror-shield-wings
as you stand in prayers of radiance. Yes may you collect the golden twirls in the palm
of your hands and let the you of you head bowed body glowing
with joy be pulled from His captives with her by spiraling
around and into the sweet mountains and breasts
of your singular-plural-singular
heart.