XI
One hundred generations, yes, one hundred and twenty-five,
had the strength each day 
not to eat this and (unclean!) 
not to say this and that, 
not to do this and that (unjust!), 
and with all this and all that 
to go about 
as men and Jews 
among their enemies
(these are the Pharisees you mocked at, Jesus).
Whatever my grandfathers did or said 
for all of their brief lives
still was theirs, 
as all of its drops at a moment make the fountain 
and all of its leaves a palm.
Each word they spoke and every thought 
was hard, each step and every gesture seen, 
by God; 
their past was still the present and the present 
dread future.
But I am private as an animal.

I have eaten whatever I liked,
I have slept as long as I wished,
I have left the highway like a dog 
to run into every alley; 
now I must learn to fast and to watch. 
I shall walk better in these heavy boots 
than barefoot.

I will fast for you, Judah, 
and be silent for you 
and wake in the night because of you;
I will speak for you 
in psalms, 
and feast because of you 
on unleavened bread and herbs.