[New-Poetry] Tattered Kaddish

[Suzanne Baran]

Wow, this poem has me in tears on an otherwise demure Sunday
afternoon. My brother killed himself in the 11th month, and I was
raised Orhtodox Jewish. I have since become Buddhist with other
leanrings, but my education and culture remain significant reminders
of my birth identity. I used to say the Kaddish for the dead. This
poem has been received at a very auspicious time in my life. Thank
you.

On 11/19/06, David Graham <GrahamD at ripon.edu> wrote:
>
> Tattered Kaddish
>
>
> Taurean reaper of the wild apple field
> messenger from earthmire gleaning
> transcripts of fog
> in the nineteenth year and the eleventh month
> speak your tattered Kaddish for all suicides:
>
> Praise to life though it crumbled in like a tunnel
> on ones we knew and loved
>
> Praise to life though its windows blew shut
> on the breathing-room of ones we knew and loved
>
> Praise to life though ones we knew and loved
> loved it badly, too well, and not enough
>
> Praise to life though it tightened like a knot
> on the hearts of ones we thought we knew loved us
>
> Praise to life giving room and reason
> to ones we knew and loved who felt unpraisable
>
> Praise to them, how they loved it, when they could.
>
>
> 1989
>
> --Adrienne Rich.  An Atlas of The Difficult World.  1991.
>
>
>
>
>
> ==========================================
>
> David Graham
>
> grahamd at ripon.edu
>
> Home Page:
>
> http://www.ripon.edu/faculty/GrahamD/index.html
>
> Poetry Library:
>
> http://www.ripon.edu/faculty/GrahamD/poetrylib.html
>
> ==========================================
>
>
>
>
>
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