Tallis
by Roxanne Scher
I murmur the blessing
before flinging it on,
my silky, rippling tallis.
Like a whispering breath
on my shoulders, it reminds me
that I will now be praying.
The knotted fringes twine
around my fingers, like
ropes pulling me to safety.
Lilac and purple, blue and
turquoise, it catches the light and sunlight splashes on to me.
Waves of fabric roll on to my arms,
stroking my neck with
their flowing fingertips.
I touch the knot to
the torah as it goes by,
then kiss it with pride.
My silky, rippling tallis.
From the site: Being Jewish
