Lo Yisa Goy

A prayer/poem for peace

Lo yisa goy el goy cherev -

clangor and clash
pounding away at red hot iron
beating swords that
drip with age-old blood

clamor and crash
it takes strength to beat so
it takes physical prowess
muscles flexing, sweat
pouring from the brow

to beat so, those swords into
plowshares

peace does not come
only from hope
it comes from action,
it comes from work

it comes from a gut wrenching
want and need, from
a deep desire and from
the fortitude to make that desire
a reality

Lo yil m’du od milchama -

there will be no more war
when we fight instead with words,
when we put forth an effort
use our strength, our
will power,
the passion of our souls
to keep those plowshares
digging in the fields

so they will not be beaten
back into swords once again.