As It Is For Clay

As it is for clay to potter,

So it is with us to God.

So may we be.

As it is with stone to mason,

So it is with us to God.

So may we be.

As it is with gold to smith,

So it is with us to God.

So may we be.

As it is with cloth to tailor,

So it is with us to God.

So may we be.

God, Creator

has made us Adam,

both earth and blood of Aleph.

We are creators too.

So may we be.

Beyond the gulf of self and God,

of I and Thou,

and lovers too.

We are both clay and potter,

both stone and mason,

gold and smith,

cloth and tailor.

So may we be.

Deep inside

we find the spark,

the spark of God

inside ourselves.

Taking stock of deeds

just as God

takes stock of cloth,

silver,

stone,

and clay.

This time of year

we shape ourselves

as God takes shape

in us.

So may it be

You give me clay

to potter be

as I am clay to You.

So may it be

You give me stone

to mason be

as I am stone to You.

So may it be

You give me gold,

a smith to be,

as I am gold to You.

So may it be

You give me cloth,

to tailor be,

as I am cloth to You.

-Rabbi David Zaslow

Rabbi David Zaslow is rabbi at Havurah Shir Hadash in Ashland, Oregon. He has written and edited over a dozen books of poetry.