Light in my closet

Light in my closet

the tomb for my fear

at the head of the string

upon whose tail I swing;

you are the welcomed, watted-daylight

scaring the ghosts of my night

in this room where clothes hang

soothing my frightened face

Light in my closet

artist of shadows about

you are friend to my secrets

coaxing them out from the dark

protecting the souls of children

guarding their Child within

Light in my closet

announcing safeness to my my breast

your faithful, watchful caring

grants freedom under duress.

The masks of love which hound me

are excluded from this sacred den.

There's freedom under your wattage.

There's warmth in your caress.

*Whereas fallen love is selfish, love of God is expansive.  Fallen fears are obsessive, true fear is edifying.

-Eliezer Shore

*The entire Torah can be understood in this way; the laws and rituals help define our relationship with God. Negative commandments preserve the purity of the soul, while positive ones direct its energies into spiritual channels.  "Do not stray to another field, my daughter," they tell the soul, "turn not away from here" Ruth 2:8). 

-Eliezer Shore