Progression [Rachel Barenblat]

PROGRESSION

The house of Shammai suggested
lighting eight candles, then seven

and so on. Like coating our hearts
in rain that turns to ice.

But we know better.
We light smoky fires, deck the halls

with chopped-up credit cards
and cling to the increasing light.

---

My last poem during this stint of guest-blogging! I'm sorry the week is over, though I haven't maintained a poem-a-day schedule in a good long while; maybe it's a good thing I'm quitting while I'm ahead.

Hillel and Shammai headed the two famous houses of scholarship which manifest the twin poles of Jewish jurisprudence. Hillel's rulings tend to be more lenient; Shammai's, more stringent. The halakha generally follows the rulings of Hillel.

I'm glad of that, especially now, as we prepare to begin the festival of Chanukah tomorrow night. I love going from one tiny flame to the blaze of eight branches of light.

Happy holidays to you, dear readers!

[progression.mp3]