Different Slants

Joy’s Ashes in Israel:

An Independent Woman

(part 3)

By Robert M. Katzman © October 30, 2017 

Joyce’s Choices:

She chose to marry a Jewish man

She chose to become a Jewish woman

She chose to have Jewish children

She became an excellent Jewish cook

Cloaking herself in the identity she wanted

Even to dying on Sunday, May 14th

Israel’s 69th Independence Day

She chose to lead a Jewish life

Rosh Hashanah//Yom Kippur

Chanukkah//Purim//Passover

New to Joyce’s existence at twenty-five

Were never forced upon her

A life she controlled

Though cancer kept Joyce from Israel

It did not choose her destiny

The man who chose her

The man who loved her

For over forty years

Completed her wishes

In the cool darkness before sunrise

Climbed up the side of Masada

Higher than he remembered

Harder than he remembered

The ultimate symbol of Jewish Resistance

Now a symbol of Joyce’s Resistance

Carried her ashes to the ruins

Of the Fortress in the desert

Where 2000 years ago

900 Jews resisted

The mighty Roman Army

The World’s strongest Empire’s

Determination for two long years

To enslave them

Then chose their own fate

And died by their own hands

When the sun rose over Masada

Bright piercing yellow light

Streaking across the sculpted hills

Heat rising like a prayer

Her husband completed

Joy’ last choice

Joy’s last wish

Felt the now broiling air

Flowing around him

Chose one more moment to hold her

To kiss the felt bag that held her

Resignation chipping away at his soul

Sunlight harshly illuminating

Wrinkles in his working-man’s hands

She knew those aged raised blue veins

The million times his hand held hers

Then he released Joyce’s ashes

To blow free into the wind

Carrying the last of Joyce’s essence

Across the dry desert sands

Across the stark Judean hills

Perhaps even to the Dead Sea

And he watched her ashes

Become part of Israel

Forever

Promise Made

Promise Kept

Shalom

My Love

 (To be continued…)

Driving in the Dark: Lost in Israel (part 1) https://www.differentslants.com/?p=3736

Bob in Israel: A Crusader Castle; The Tunisian Synagogue (part 2) https://www.differentslants.com/?p=3748

Marsha Michael, Who Solved My Problems in Israel (part 4) https://www.differentslants.com/?p=3771

Tel Aviv, Israeli radio and Unexpected Art (part 5) https://www.differentslants.com/?p=3796

Vad Yashem: Killing Millions of Children (part 6) https://www.differentslants.com/?p=3811

Chicago man Watches Death of Samurais in Israel (part 7)//www.differentslants.com/?p=3846

Traveling Alone, Traveling Together (part 8)

//www.differentslants.co/?p=3865

An American Jew’s Bold New Plan for a Sane, Peaceful and Prosperous State of Palestine (part 9) //www.differentslants.co/?p=3887

David’s Star in Israel (part 10) //www.differentslants.co/?p=3907

Sleeping With the Bedouins (part 11-a)

 https://www.differentslants.com/?p=3962

Pleading with Fate in Jerusalem (part 12) https://www.differentslants.com/?p=3980

To contact the writer:

robertmkatzman@gmail.com