IN THE END
(For Saint  Edith Stein)
(Jerusalem 1992)

In the end
we lean out
of the window here
on the garden patch
to catch a bit
of a Carmelite sunshine
you cannot bottle in
a poet
by a thousand sands,

heaven forbid,
I cannot pretend
even eyeing the birds
at the Red Sea
love cannot commit
any curse under His creation
made in your imagery
as you may reverse us
only with holy spirit
illumination
in your Word's revelation,

O wondrous garden of Eden
you sentenced our first born
who were weak
when it is justice we seek
as we are forlorn
as the pagan
from the curse in the garden
seeking pardon
worn into penance robes
for repentance
during Holy Week,

we remember those souls
O Jacob, enlarge thy tents
you have heard the curse
in the desert, O my people
return to Me
and make water from wine
in pitchers in the Negev
by the carob
and juniper tree

dance before me,
dine on Kingly floors
sing psalms
of the divine prophets

Pray for those few souls
of the nations
who have cursed you
now hidden away
and yet choose prophets
like King David
to rhyme as a poet
with Mary in blue,

walk gently with the Lord,

in his station and manger
worship Him there
do not be a poor stranger,

O my nation,

send out the good light
and nurse Solomon's proverbs
say the healing words
over a herb's blessing
as unleavened bread
with yeast for guests
at the incoming Passover's feast
resting near the reed's river bed,

pray for a misunderstood
son or daughter
with their four questions

who are now dressing up
war wounds
received from the nations
the dead will rise
like Lazarus,

we know whom the just
and Righteous
speaks for, Father
so early in the day,

why do we stare so long
to bow at the wall
it takes only a second
to make amends
to put in a prayer
like a fallen leaf
of unbelief,
saying your amens,

even when a brief sin
takes in the in- laws side
we remember Ruth
in marrying from grace
not from family pride
truth will still pour through
the land you dwell in
onto your beautiful face
O Israel,


love cannot die
or pause for the bird song
to make due,

My people
only choose a shadow
in the sunshine for your city
ask the Holy One
to pardon this day
and my pity for the least,

O Daughter of Jerusalem
tarry into the light,
there is nothing wrong
with a brief stay
outside at dawn


there is a more above the sky
as we realize the canticles
in a mystical and musical
minor Hebrew key
as your cry is heard by me,


he wants to sanctify
a way to divine the chords
of His lyrical love

in a miracle of God's rewards
every eye will recognize,

O my generation,
remember your younger days
how the warring wind
from golden Jerusalem
would rescue the just
even by the sandy Jordan
or on a Galilean storm


all the sinned and repentant
wash like those of us
in the baptized
breeze of the river
who had forgotten to pray
as Moses will deliver,

we hold onto the hem
of His garment and sway,
tarrying with ease


and recite a bold prayer
after saying an amen,


there are other ways
his love will capture you
as His words come into view
in the valley of dry bones
no use to pretend
we are no longer in exile
whether Gentile or Jew
by the Jezreel mountain
only His love atones

hear O ISRAEL
for the new Jerusalem bells
sound the shofar
above the heather of earth

angels around Jerusalem
as laughter and mirth
are shooting from stars
with a rapture to pursue.