עָ פָ רֶבּ תִֵּי שׁ תִּ קְ וָה. ֵי
בוֹת קִֹח יוֹנֵק בִּ רְְו עָ טֵ ף ע וֹ לֵ לֵבּ
“ PERHAPS” IS NOT ENOUGH
Rabbi-Cantor Michael McCloskey
ן
ִפּ י ה וּ א וּ לַ י
א י כ ה ג: כ ט Let one place one’ s mouth in mud; Perhaps there is hope— Lamentations 3:29
“ Perhaps I can be forgiven?” I said as you turned away. but you knew I wasn’ t one of the righteous and that we’ d both be swept away 31.
“ Perhaps there is hope?” God thought as Cain pulled the trigger as Abel smiled simply at his brother And so we think as they chant of our death in the streets, as the babies languish in the mud and rubble 32 mothers burning like ovens, like misfired rockets, tear-ducts spent for their lost children 33 spilled in the field 34, upon the stones, on festival wear that once caressed skin and speakers that once played music not grief.
“ Perhaps there’ s hope?” I said,“ even a fool’ s hope” 35, as I cried,
31
Genesis 19:17
32
In Gaza. And see the last phrase of Lamentations 2:11: ְר הָי
/ when infants and nursing babies faint in the streets of the city”.
33
Mothers of the hostages and mothers of Gaza
34
Once again, a reference to Cain and Abel and to the Nova Festival massacre.
35
A reference to Gandalf’ s words to Peregrin Took in J. R. R. Tolkien’ s The Return of the King:“ Tell me,' he said, ' is there any hope? For Frodo, I mean;
81