Israel

   Alan Sillitoe          

Israel is light and mountains

Bedrock and river

Sand-dunes and gardens,

Earth so enriched

It can be seen from

The middle of the sun.

Without Israel

Would be

The pain

Of God struck from the universe

And the soul falling

Endlessly through night.

Israel

Guards the Sabbath-candle of the world

A storm-light marking

Job’s inn – open to all –

An ark without lifeboats

On land’s vast ocean.

© 1974 Alan Sillitoe