The Caves of Machpelah

Genesis 25: 8-9

And Abraham breathed his last, dying at a good age, old and contented .His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the caves Machpelah.

Come near, dear Issac

as I parse yet another postcard.

Whisper in my ear, forefather;

I have given up on letters.

Through what conduit

should I appeal:

 "Please call"...

"Please contact....

Because the last phone number is disconnected;

Ma Bell has no listing.

Your Ishmael dwelt in Egypt,

but mine's is only 548 miles away--

eight hours by car

days by camel.

Could Isaac pick up some ancient phone,

say briefly--

"He's dead."

Did Ishmael fly to comfort his brother?

How to express such mixed emotions?

That man who tossed me to the desert winds--

This father who raised a knife to my throat--

He's dead.

The only father I ever knew.

The only father I never had.

Scapegoats

Gen 8:20  Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking of every clean animal, he offered burnt offerings on the altar.

We never saw the rainbow.

We only saw

Noah, his sons, his wife, his daughters,

and then the knife.

Our saviors sacrificed us in thanks

as they

prepared to people the land

made miraculously dry

for them.

Eden

That place where the predator lies

down with the prey

is no garden for the lion.

That's why I didn't return your phone calls.

It was your soft brown eyes,

innocent as any lamb.