HILLS OF JERUSALEM

Posted by Joan Silber on Jan 10, 2016 | 3 comments

The hills of Jerusalem surround me . From the vantage point of our small apartment the view is expansive.         The tower of the Old City pokes its steeple above the landscape to the South. It is sunset. A bit of rainy haze hovers in the air; the Western sky is painted with streaks of pink and orange, and the deep red orb sinks quickly. Thousands of distant lights twinkle as the night covers all outlines in its black cloak.

I stand on our open-air porch, close my eyes, and inhale the moisture from recent rains. Did shepherds once lay upon this landscape, settling in for a quiet night? Was it a mix of rock and weed? Would they be listening to the bleating of their lambs as they looked up in wonder as one star after another filled the sky?

So many lights from multitudes of houses dot the surroundings now. The stars are far apart and few. The limestone walls stand 5 stories high filled with families that have never been near a live sheep, knowing only the slaughtered lamb shanks that lay in frozen cellophane wraps in the grocery, The sound is that of crying babies at bedtime

Were the shepherd boy to see his landscape now, would he weep? But should he come and close HIS eyes, he might hear the daytime laughter of children, hear their footsteps scuttling up and down stairways. He might just notice the sweet yeasty smell of freshly baked challah or hear the women chattering as their pots clang upon the stoves.

If he could see beyond the peaceful hills, he might then deeply weep to witness man turning against man in acts of terror, anger and hate. Instead of walking freely, arms swinging, skipping worry free, he might notice the deliberate glances , the constant look over the shoulder, the fearful steps.   And if he could see beyond the Western sea or to the North or East or South, surely his mouth would drop in amazed dismay to see how far the fires of hate, power and greed had spread.

How can it be, with all of the original wonders, it has come to this?

But then, tonight is quiet, the air is full with sweet smells, and the lights of city blend upwards to the constant stars.

December 30, 2015.