Saturday, December 13, 2008

The First Day of Poetry

"Eight Lights"

eight lights
eight lights borne aloft on
wax and gold
a story of old
retold in candle and oil flame splendor

eight lights
seven days beyond the
life span of mundane oil
death delayed to give up offerings
of light
to burn bright
out of sight
Hashem is here
Hashem is near

eight lights
eight lights powered
by pellucid oil
to see miracles through
the fog of centuries, old crumpled scrolls
and transcriptions from jot and tittle to
pixel and electron love
words, sonic souls, carry our blood
through the air
through the fourth dimension
and we are here
and we are near
to Thee

eight lights
eight lights to jog memories
while the Shamash lights up the house
the memories rise up, in spades
curl around the brains of the eyes
who see the lights dancing in
our window
below in the snow
the glow and soul live on
memories
blood
hands linked
Hashem
in
eight
lights


by Nicole Nicholson from Raven's Wing Poetry. To find details about her first chapbook, Raven Feathers, click here.

4 comments:

writerwoman said...

Love the poem, Nicole. And I like that it is about Hanukkah. Its nice to spread the holiday cheer to all the holidays at this time of year. Thank you so much for taking part. I am hoping that many PWB members stop in during the next twelve days and help us celebrate the holidays here at PWB.

Anonymous said...

I love the Celebration of Lights, thank you for sharing Hanukkah, its beauty and special meaning ---

fleuve-souterrain said...

lovely poem. Gave that serene feeling one seeks during this season... words and images perfectly nuanced.

paisley said...

this was expertly written... i will admit however i had to google hashem and shamash,, and it was not until i did i understood the eight lights....