THE BAAL-TESHUVAH

                                     by Yakov Azriel

 

                    "The Lord knows the thoughts of man — that they are vanity." (Psalm 94:11)

  

I thought I'd have to put aside my eyes

In order to believe, and put aside

My brain, because belief in God had died

I thought, when hearing helmsmen eulogize

Its recent death or imminent demise.

The sea of faith was shrinking and its tide

Had surely turned, so I felt justified

Surmising that its shallows swarmed with lies.

 

Or so I thought.  For I was full of pride,

Self-confident the human mind was wise

Enough to analyze the brine of life.

Oh what a fool I was, my God, to hide

Behind this mask and wear this cheap disguise,

While stabbing oceans with a pocket-knife.