Jewish Prayers From the Heart and Pen of Alden Solovy

This Stubborn Heart

This is a prayer for a new heart, for healing from within. It can be used as a meditation before the High Holidays. To listen along as you read, click on the triangle in the bar below. The entire text follows.

 

This Stubborn Heart
This heart refuses to heal.
The pain must stay fresh,
The wound must stay open.
How else will I remember
The shattered love,
The scattered dreams?

No more!
I reject this heart that scorns
The balm of time,
The salve of companions,
The grace of music,
The power of the open sky.

Let joy and humor
Fill my chest with passion
For every moment,
Every person,
Every longing,
And every desire.
Let it pump sweetness
From ventricle to ventricle
And into my empty veins.

Cut out this stubborn heart.
Replace it with a clean organ,
Fresh with romance and blood.

© 2010 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: Here are links to prayers for Elul, prayers for Rosh Hashana, prayers for Yom Kippur and prayers for Sukkot.

Please consider making a contribution to support this site and my writing. For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” For notices of new prayers, please subscribe. You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank You for Your Support
Your contribution helps support the creation of new prayers available to all on this site.