A Little East of Jordan, Emily Dickinson #59 (TJ)
A little East of Jordan,
Evangelists record,
A Gymnast and an Angel
Did wrestle long and hard -
Till morning touching mountain -
And Jacob, waxing strong,
The Angel begged permission
To Breakfast - to return!
Not so, said cunning Jacob!
“I will not let thee go
Except thou bless me” - Stranger!
The which acceded to -
Light swung the silver fleeces
“Peniel” Hills beyond,
And the bewildered Gymnast
Found he had worsted God!
Emily Dickinson #59(TJ)
Even though in the story of Genesis, Jacob tricks his father and betrays his brother, he feels extreme remorse for these actions, this is the wrestling with God or the Angel. Of course the all forgiving God grants his forgiveness and blesses him, God is the Angel in this poem.
Of course this scenario can apply to anyone going through tough times, in tough times you feel like you are wrestling God. But it’s the moment you realize God does answer your prayers,” Light swung the silver fleeces\ “Peniel” Hills beyond,”. When God does answer, it's in a bigger and better way, then you had ever imagined, and you are left completely “bewildered.”
As I researched Jacob more and more, my piece all of a sudden became political. I had no idea, God changed Jacob’s name to Israel after the wrestling match. Right now as we speak Israel is waging war against the Palestinians because they have a terrorist group, “Hamas” that attacked them first.
My first thought was, I do not want to get into politics, and cancel the piece altogether. But Look how proud she is! Any gymnast knows you must go through multiple wrestling matches to make that Landing.
You can make that landing and Peace must reign again!! This Gymnast represents victory over war, victory over hatred.
This Gymnast, “Goddess of Victory of Peace”, Kate Walensak, stands for Love and Peace throughout the world. Stand for the ones who have fallen. Let not innocent victims die in vain.
Thank you to the photographer, Karen Kasperek, for her photographs of Kate Walensak.
