Mountain Lament

And on the fourth day

the heavens will open

and the skies will weep

a deep grief falling

onto the land.

Oh, what are we doing?

What are we losing?

Who will remember?

Where is the holy land?

And the wind will blow

the cool air in, to brush 

the napes of our necks

imploring us to bow down

and kiss the ground.

All rain is blessing.

We will cry with the rain

and cleanse ourselves.

May we be worthy

of the mountain

may our atonement 

be received

even as destruction continues.

May this sacrifice

make sacred

at least this life

and this breath.

We will give thanks to the mountain.

We will touch 

our foreheads

to the cheeks

of the stone gods

of this place.

We will confess.

Please forgive us.

Please.

Forgive us.