This is a Hebrew poetry “smash-up,” combining the themes of the Yiddish song כוח with the image of the Sabbath Queen from the liturgical poem לכה דודי. To listen along, click on the triangle in the bar below. The text follows.
Welcome, Sabbath Queen
Let go! Let go!
Release your struggle and strife.
Release your work and your toil.
Welcome, Sabbath Queen,
With gifts of joy and light.
With gifts of comfort and peace.
Let go! Let go!
Release your troubles and concerns.
Release your worries and your burdens.
Welcome, Sabbath Queen,
With gifts of gentleness and song.
With gifts of radiance and love.
Enter this holy day
This sacred time
This ancient beauty
That returns to nourish
Body and soul.
Enter this luminous wonder,
The place of Torah and t’fillah,
This moment that touches creation
With celebration and stillness.
Come,
Sing with us in sacred harmony.
Sing of majesty and wonder,
Revelation and redemption.
Sing out G-d’s wisdom and compassion.
G-d’s gift of rest.
Welcome, Sabbath Queen.
Welcome.
© 2012 Alden Solovy and www.tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.
Postscript: Jewish poetry, liturgy, story and song are rich with the deep Jewish love for Shabbat. Here’s a prayer “For the Arrival of Shabbat” and a question to G-d “About Shabbat,” plus two short, short stories – also known as flash fiction – about Shabbat: “Sarah Rivkah: A Challah Baking Story” and “Mendel Baruch: S’hema on Shabbat.” Sarah Rivka is one of my favorites.
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Image Source: Alden Solovy