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Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis

since 1999-11-08

Posts 9269
Pennsylvania

0 posted 2004-05-02 03:57 PM

You Are Jerusalem

You are crowned in thorns and silver domes
and shining in mystical resplendence.
You shelter tombs steeped in Christian antiquity
and harbor old wisdoms in the mosques of Islam.

How many of your gates have been open to the
prism reflections of David
and closed to the incipient threats of destruction,
ajar to the beauty and self expression of the spirit,
and locked to the man from Nazareth?

Your tranquility hovers over Gethsemane,
your unrest in the Franciscan mortar that bonds
three faiths encased in stone
and lit by stained glass

Your diary is scrolled in many languages,
in handwriting of the prophets,
in fraktur of the monks,
in Arabic illumination,
and among the writing is revealed
man’s yearning for eternal life.
And there are sketches of narrow streets
where peace and conflict are brother and sister,
where ancient burial chambers are of mother and Son,
where Mohammed is the forebear of Islam
and a menorah, the ancestor of Jewish faith.

You are descendant of a mosaic trinity,
a spiritual collage of divine purpose and intrinsic desire
carved by David and Solomon
by Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus
by Alexander the Great, Herod and Hadrian,
the Macabees, the Muslims and the Turks

Jerusalem, oh sweet Jerusalem,
You rest in the shadow of Bethlehem
and Bethlehem in the shadow of your spirit.
You are en route to Mecca
and Mecca en route to your comfort.
You are the heart of Israel
and Israel is the heart of your contentment.

You are crowned in thorns and silver domes
and sit at the crossroads of three distinct paths
that converge in discord and harmony,
in prejudice and tolerance, in theological differences
and in mutual respect.

You are Jerusalem.

Elizabeth Santos

[This message has been edited by Elizabeth Santos (05-03-2004 04:12 PM).]

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

1 posted 2004-05-02 05:04 PM

Elizabeth~
This is so spiritually regal~

I have loved every moment of the reads I've done on this piece~

Much admiration for this ... and for you~
*Huglets*
~*Marge*~

~*When the heart grieves over what it has lost,
the spirit rejoices over what it has left.
- Sufi epigram <))><

[email protected]

Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis

since 1999-11-08

Posts 9269
Pennsylvania

2 posted 2004-05-02 05:10 PM

Just as I revere the spirituality of the many pieces you have written of your ancestry and of the spirit

THank you, dear Marge

LOve you
Liz

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

3 posted 2004-05-02 06:17 PM

Beautiful dear Elizabeth..very much enjoyed.
~Smiles & Hugs~

~I love you - those three words have my life in them.~

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

4 posted 2004-05-02 11:26 PM

Liz....A very special treat to be able to hear this and read it...your voice is clear both ways.

Beki
Senior Member

since 1999-09-15

Posts 1569
Newport Beach, CA, USA

5 posted 2004-05-03 04:07 PM

THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL, I ENJOYED EVERY WORD BOTH ASTHETICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

6 posted 2004-05-03 04:42 PM

Your diary is scrolled in many languages,
in handwriting of the prophets,
in fraktur of the monks,
in Arabic illumination,
and among the writing is revealed
man’s yearning for eternal life.
And there are sketches of narrow streets
where peace and conflict are brother and sister,
where ancient burial chambers are of mother and Son,
where Mohammed is the forebear of Islam
and a menorah, the ancestor of Jewish faith.

~*~

We do not get free verse from you often, Lady...
but when we do, we are highly honored...

and humbly blessed.

Dark Angel
Member Patricius

since 1999-08-04

Posts 10095

7 posted 2004-05-03 07:41 PM

It's a keeper..fantastic Liz.

Maree

What are you my god? You touch me like you are my god
What are you my twin? You affect me like you are my twin.

Go Alanis!

True North
Junior Member

since 2004-05-03

Posts 23

8 posted 2004-05-04 09:06 AM

what kind of history information can get me writting such words.

i bow for this.

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

9 posted 2004-05-04 12:52 PM

LeeJ
Member Patricius

since 2003-06-19

Posts 13296

10 posted 2004-05-04 02:47 PM

And there are sketches of narrow streets
where peace and conflict are brother and sister,
where ancient burial chambers are of mother and Son,
where Mohammed is the forebear of Islam
and a menorah, the ancestor of Jewish faith.

excellent writing! Very much enjoyed

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