poem: head of the year, by marge piercy

thanks to keith kachtick at dharma yoga for sharing this poem in class yesterday and sending it to me this morning.

this poem was originally written for the jewish "head of the year," rosh hashanah. it's a day of repentance and significantly, the year starts with a new moon, a time of turning inward.

for more on this holiday, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosh_Hashanah.

i liked find this out: "During the afternoon of the first day the practice of tashlikh is observed, in which prayers are recited near natural flowing water, and one's sins are symbolically cast into the water."

i recommend dharma yoga for the fullness of the practice there, the depth and breadth of the teachings. it's also fun! get there early! my class yesterday was packed and wonderful. keith and camilla are amazing and brilliant teachers.

click title to go to the dharma yoga website. i'm adding it to my links as well.

here's the poem:


Head of the Year
by Marge Piercy

The moon is dark tonight, a new
moon for a new year. It is
hollow and hungers to be full.
It is the black zero of beginning.

Now you must void yourself
of injuries, insults, incursions.
Go with empty hands to those
you have hurt and make amends.

It is not too late. It is early
and about to grow. Now
is the time to do what you
know you must and have feared
to begin. Your face is dark
too as you turn inward to face
yourself, the hidden twin of
all you must grow to be.

Forgive the dead year. Forgive
yourself. What will be wants
to push through your fingers.
The light you seek hides
in your belly. The light you
crave longs to stream from
your eyes. You are the moon
that will wax in new goodness.