The Scroll of Anatiya. Zoë Klein
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world tilts awkwardly,
like a drunkard, staggering through the ruins.
45Seized by desolation . . . I cry for you from the dark corner.
I gather your shadow into my arms.
46It is brittle and cold, quaking in the first throes of dying.
47I brush off the dust and kiss its fluttering eyelids,
and gently rock it in the cradle of my bosom, singing:
48“Hush, shadow, hush. I am your island of calm.
Return to our prophet,
surround his body like a moat around a castle,
fed by the fount of his tears.
Let no killing thing cross.
Let none pull asunder.”
49The shadow slips from me, healed,
and Jeremiah finally succumbs
to slumber, 50face damp,
and young as a child.
51In the morning I press my lips
to the tearstains on his sleeping mat,
and I shiver as a flower with pleasure
with the touch of morning dew.
9
O to be in the desert with you,
with its ribbons of gold and rose.
2To leave this people
and to hide in a secret oasis,
and to love unashamed
under the open sky
with its voyeuristic sun,
3our bodies sanded and rose-colored.
4The desert stares like the giant amber eye
of a lion, purring,
we dance and leap, two flecks,
where nobody heeds us
~wrote Anatiya.
5O friend of my heart,
were you only my brother
we could suckle from the same breast.
6We could speak loudly across the marketplace,
“Peace, sister! Peace, brother!”
7You could embrace me and kiss me lightly.
If only you were a nobody like me!
8If only you were insignificant, overlooked,
we could shout our careless love with trumpets
and none would pay us any heed!
~wrote Anatiya.
9I assure you, the place in my dreams does exist.
10A place on the opposite side of the world
that is the opposite of everything here.
11A garden springs up in the midst of an orchard,
and a stone bench—
carved in the manner of Betzalel,
overlaid with gold,
two cherubs leaning in, wings touching
to form a seat for two—
waits by a fountain that spills,
whose bubbles are the giggling of children.
12The opposite of everything here,
the sandy road is a pathway of precious stones
crushed into glittering dust
~wrote Anatiya.
13Paradise is only as far as the flame from the wick.
14A bench in the manner of Betzalel
waits for two lovers to rest and find repose,
to gaze into each other’s eyes
as into green pastures,
15while vines thick with roses entwine round their legs,
while their footprints fill with spring poppies
and lilies drop out of the sky.
16I know this place is called Milashuri,
and when we go there and grasp hands and find repose,
the spirit will move the cherub’s wings
and lift the lovers over many ladders of cloud
upon the chariots of Amminadab.
17Dear Lord, in Your wisdom
You understand this girl,
whose life is but a forgotten dream,
whose heart is a shattered urn.
18Gather these pieces, merciful Lord!
Fit them into a mosaic on the Temple floor,
and let the high priests tread on my desire.
19I am but dust, my Lord.
Sweep me up!
Sweep me in Your kindness
into Divine Evermore!
20Jeremiah is being scolded on behalf of all people. God’s words are fire-filled hailstones. 21God gave His only daughter to Israel as a bride, and she has returned to Him bruised and mistreated. 22Downcast and dejected, she frets about Heaven, twisting her porcelain hands. 23“Don’t avenge Yourself upon him, O Father, please! He is a good husband, with a pure love in his heart, I swear unto You! 24He is just a bit young! A little stubborn, a little human, dear Father! Don’t scatter him, don’t slay him. 25You can’t expect him to be just like You!” 26But God looks upon her and weeps. He says, “Once you had no creases on your brow, and your eyes were clear as a river.” 27He lifts up His sword to chase Israel. Torah falls to her knees and clutches His robe.
28She cries:
“It is only because I have become human in his arms!”
29She seizes the corner of His robe and it tears.
30He turns to her in anger and says:
“I have this day torn your marriage with Israel.
Summon the dirge-singers! 31Let them wail for you.
From now on the sons of men shall not
take wives from among divine beings.
32My breath will not dwell in them forever.”
Her tears wash over the mountain of the north.
33The sound of her wailing
is heard from Heaven.
34She clutches the golden ring
which Moses himself handed her
when she appeared to him
in blazing beauty.
35God is so jealous,
so livid when He looks at the hearts of men
that He forgets the redemptive love
found in the hearts of women!
And so I cry out, “I love!
“I love!
“I love!”
36My ears receive the teachings of Your mouth,
and yet, death creeps over my windowsill,
consuming