An Upside Down World Esther and Antisemitism | Page 116

תִָּא בַ‏ דְ‏ הְו עַתָּ‏
תִָּה פַכְ‏ הַע תָּ‏
סְ‏ תֵּ‏ רֶא
נִ‏ י ? ‏ֲא
הָי לְ‏ דָ‏ נָּהְק טַ‏ רַָנ ֲ ע
שָּׁ‏ הִא
מִֶא ת תְּ‏ תִָּא בַ‏ דְ‏
מַּ‏ לְ‏ כָּ‏ ה ! ‏ַה
סתַ‏ רוֹתִַמ תֶא
י י מ וּ תִ‏ י
י ‏ֵר ‏ֵאוּנִ‏ י ! ל ֹ א יוֹתֵ‏ ר ל ֹ א י וֹ תֵ‏ ר ל ֹ א ה י וֹ תֵ‏ ר י
‏ִמ י
י
Who am I ? Do you see me ? My essence ? You have taken my name Hadassah - to be concealed behind Esther Can you see the drops of tears that the mask of laughter enshrouds ? Do you realize that the wreath upon my head has cleaved my flesh ? Your eyes regard the loveliness of the rose Yet you disregard the droplets of blood trickling down ? You delivered me for your own convenience To be behind concealing walls Like a pure offering , I came forth A girl - without knowledge , a child -with no experience , a fledgling - without power I believed , I trusted You transformed me into a Queen A Queen veiled behind a mask You said “ Go !”, I came You commanded “ Silence !”, I stilled Now , “ Rescue !” Is my life vapor to waft according to your words ? My shoulders are too weak for this work I had not been called to come before the king these thirty days : It was said ,
115