#lookupmylove #liftupyoureyes #issac #yitzhak #lonely #sorrow #mourning #fillupmyheart #rebecca #isaacandrebecca #walkinginthefield #mincha #liftupyoureyes #isaacthesilent #chayeisarah #parshah #breisheet #torahportion #poetry #wordshavewings
The story of Isaac and Rebecca is a love story. I have always found the image of Isaac wandering in the field a gentle illustration of his pain and suffering. Because in Torah he says so little there is much room for interpretation in Isaac's life. In these twin poems I have tried to imagine Isaac and Rebecca's first meeting and write about it from each of their perspectives. I suspect that midrashic literature might differ from my interpretation about their first glimpses of one another in that field toward the beginning of the evening. I'd like to think that these words can teach us about the comfort that a partner brings to one's life and perhaps a little about love.
Lift Up Your Eyes- Isaac
וַיֵּצֵ֥א יִצְחָ֛ק לָשׂ֥וּחַ בַּשָּׂדֶ֖ה לִפְנ֣וֹת עָ֑רֶב וַיִּשָּׂ֤א עֵינָיו֙ וַיַּ֔רְא וְהִנֵּ֥ה גְמַלִּ֖ים בָּאִֽים׃ From Sefaria And Isaac went out walking in the field toward evening and, looking up, he saw camels approaching. Genesis: 24:63,64
"Lift up your eyes
My beloved"
You walk through the field
As your camels await you
a breeze blows gently
The grass is dry under your feet
The rays of the sun paint you gold
Your robes flow behind you like waves
Your hands lie calm at your sides
Your gaze is downward
I stand tongue tied, bewitched
I beseech you
"Lift up your eyes"
And see me
Let our gazes forever be bound
Together
Please, if you will
Look upon me gently
for I am vulnerable
Words often elude me
But my eyes can drink deeply
Eyes that wordlessly welcomes you
My heart is so empty
My soul is sinking
Fill it with your presence
Be a gentle balm to my soul
Soothe me with your goodness
Embrace me, capture me forever
oh Rebecca, my love
Lift up Your Eyes- Rebecca
וַתִּשָּׂ֤א רִבְקָה֙ אֶת־עֵינֶ֔יהָ וַתֵּ֖רֶא אֶת־יִצְחָ֑ק וַתִּפֹּ֖ל מֵעַ֥ל הַגָּמָֽל׃ Raising her eyes, Rebekah saw Isaac. She alighted from the camel
וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־הָעֶ֗בֶד מִֽי־הָאִ֤ישׁ הַלָּזֶה֙ הַהֹלֵ֤ךְ בַּשָּׂדֶה֙ לִקְרָאתֵ֔נוּ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הָעֶ֖בֶד ה֣וּא אֲדֹנִ֑י וַתִּקַּ֥ח הַצָּעִ֖יף וַתִּתְכָּֽס׃ and said to the servant, “Who is that man walking in the field toward us?” And the servant said, “That is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself.
Genesis: 24:63,64. (Translation from Sefaria)
I descend from my camel
My feet touch the ground
After a long journey
The earth is solid beneath my feet
I come as a bride,
a healer of broken hearts
festooned with gold and jewels
I am far from home
My parent's protection behind me
My heart pulses, my hands tremble
I am young but I am strong
Evening approaches
It spreads its golden blanket on the field
The air is still as shadows lengthen
The camels softly shuffle
The scent of evening descends
I breathe in its scent
It calms my heart
A dove sings out its mournful goodnight
Yonder a young man
Walks alone in the fields
He wanders among grasses and rocks
I see the slope of his shoulders
The curve of his neck
He looks at me and our eyes meet
I see kindness and grief
I cover myself and my cheeks turn red
My robe flows behind me
My hands are calm as I walk toward my future
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