fast day

fast day
not like in moving quickly

it's a day
of not eating until the stars are out

Jewish calendar
has lots of days
like that
you'd think we'd be thinner

most are from the first rays of the sun,
until stars are in the sky

two
the 9th of Av
and the famous Yom Kippur
are from the previous dusk
until the next night's stars
twenty five hours in all

the 9th of Av
Tisha (9) of Av
is a long day
a long hot day
the peak of the summer
hottest and driest
commemorates
the destruction of the Holy Temple
ends a period of three weeks
from when the protective walls
were proven ineffective

yes
even in ancient times
when weapons were weaker
walls, reinforced,
thick of stones
couldn't protect
from all enemies

we still mourn today
for the destruction of our Temple

and Yom Kippur
to purify our souls
need pure body
as we rid ourselves
of sins
must not tempt
with physical

the day before Purim
end of winter
before spring
we beseech G-d
to be with us
to help us
against our enemies
a day
that can be hot, cold, rainy or snowy
we need G-d
on our side
so we fast
before listening
to the Megilla
story of Esther
how she and Mordechai
outwitted Haman
the enemy
with G-d's help

other fast days
like today
remind us of tragedies

but today's
a short day
not hot
shouldn't be too hard
to starve
for the day

thousands
of years ago
the King of Babylon
began the siege
that brought
the destruction of the Temple

in recent times
the Nazi murderings
are connected
with this date

now
there is so much
hatred and anger
at the victims
of Sharon's
destruction
plan

considering
that Jews
may, G-d forbid,
be thrown out of their homes

it is a day
to fast and pray