The Schmooze

POEM: ‘Zohar’

By Alicia Ostriker December 12, 2014

In the Shining
Book it says

Moses existed
before he existed

at first above
in the spirit world

and then among us
like a light

child of the Blessed Holy One
who is a man of war

and child of the Blessed Holy One
the glamorous moon

divine mother and lover, that had to be hidden

coupling with him
in both worlds

what did you see, Moses my teacher
in your descent from there

helpless as you were
like us then

were there animals
on the cave walls

did you see the lions
did you see the calf

this, this — a light

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