An Infinite Chain - a prayer for the Avot v'Imahot

There is a chain,

of unimaginable delicacy

And infinite tensile strength,

Wrapped around, bound

thirteen times around,

From head

to heart

to hands

to You.

Back,

And further back,

And deeper back

Than time

or distance, back

To ancient others –

who were promised empire
and dreamed of angels
and laughed
and loved,

Who danced and despaired

and cried out Your name.

They are Named,

And nameless

And me.

They are me.

I see them in

Mirrored glass,

and hear their voices

whisper of God’s glory

in the silence of night.

I feel their joy -

and taste their bitter

brokenness
Like iron on my tongue.

And together

We are whole.

Together we remember,
And so sing praises
to Your Name.