saying modeh ani — I am grateful — upon waking blessing the body breathing
sitting at an altar
to the world to come
counting olive wood prayer beads
chanting hineni — Here I am —
listening to the birds
reaching for the ukulele
reaching for the tiple jíbaro
reaching for the guitar
blessing lands and waters with their true names —
Zhegagoynak, Michigami,
Mikinak Minising,
praying to my own rhythm
in my own voice
offering morning blessings
with a Wailers song
studying Torah
studying the Torah of labor songs
of Yiddish novels, Spanish poetry,
Reggae history, Frantz Fanon,
of Goddess worship and Tarot
of seasons and plants
of every land that has helped to grow me
every language that has tuned my ear
every teaching that has enriched
the soil of my being
tending the garden
walking the dogs
talking with neighbors
listening to the cicadas
listening to the geese
listening to the river
showing up to the action,
the rehearsal, the group chat,
the meeting, the concert, the play,
the services, the birthday party,
listening to the poem, the speech,
the song, the album, the voice note,
the podcast, the friend,
listening to the crickets,
to the wind in the trees —
noticing faces, feelings,
cadences, clouds
writing the poem
saying the shema
— all is One —
before sleeping
contemplating the waters
that connect all life
when reciting the blessing
for washing hands
blessing the living waters
that ever flow toward liberation
in all its wondrous forms
