Hi Ryfkah,
Thanks for your information... I was almost getting it right. I guess the
one person, the one voice, that was able to ecumenically incorporate three
distinct religions was what confused me (it was only when I was out mowing
the lawn a few minutes ago that the thought flew into my head that The Mount
could be something to do with Islam... I was going to try and search for
some clues but clicked onto The Works instead!). But it still isn't easy to
accept that one person can feel at ease with 3 religio/political stances
that are engaged in so much violence (both today and for centuries). I like
the way you end the poem (the character comes across as firm and undaunted).
I like poetry that can hold the big world issues and the personal together.
It'd be good to see how it works out (the poem - and the peace process!)
Bob
>From: Ryfkah * <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: New Poem: Next Year in Jerusalem
>Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 11:08:36 EDT
>
>Shalom Bob
>
>Next year in Jerusalem is the traditional prayer or chant that ends the
>Passover Seder, meal/service each year - we are praying to reunite in our
>land and leave the Diaspora, which most of us don't actually intend to do,
>so
>it is more spiritual for most. The Voice of the poem was going to finally
>go
>to the land of her people. Jews by Torah are obligated to make a
>pilgrimage
>to Jerusalem three times a year, one Passover; most do not. I was trying
>with the other references to make Jerusalem a holy city for each religion.
>The Mount was supposed to be where Mohammed ascended to heaven.
>
>Also, I was indeed trying to link the July 4th killing with the paranoia in
>LAX, Los Angeles International Airport, now.
>
>kol tuv, Ryfkah
>
>PS. I am revising this one; it seems a real challenge.
>
>In a message dated 7/13/02 11:51:15 AM, [log in to unmask]
>writes:
>
><< Hi Ryfkah,
>Part of this poem seems to rest in Jewish tradition - next year in
>jerusalem
>& the wailing wall are Jewish, yet Gesemane, the Via Dolorosa, and The
>Mount
>are Christian. Are you intending your reader to feel that the person in the
>poem is comfortable with each faith?
>Is the person in the poem waiting for a flight that will take them to
>Jerusalem for this year's Passover? If so (and that seems to be why they're
>at the Airport) I can't fully work out the significance of the celebratory
>recitation of a chanted prayer that says "next year..."
>It may just be me, but I feel I'm picking up mixed messages...
>And the glyph "LAX" won't unpack itself in my brain! And I keep wanting to
>link the poem to what happened on the 4th July this year in the queue at
>the
>El Al desk at Los Angeles... am I right in that interpretation?
>Bob >>
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