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Building Partner
translated from the Hebrew by Riva Rubin

I also want to be a partner
in the building of Jerusalem. With you
sing hymns to her with a great voice
in the assemblage of her mutes;
with you encompass her wall
in a glory=march among her lame celebrants.
I have the right to be a partner, after all I spilled the fury 
of my youth on her:
fights with zealots and night patrols
in the shadow of fences, sniping from her lattices.
Wait, don`t finish without me, I`ve
bought rough sandals and white linen
to flourish with you on her towers,
before I smash myself on the squares
and am pounded by her stones like you powdered fine
coveting the dust of her saints.