Eight Lights

Eight Lights

(A Poem for Chanukah)




One
Light
For
Liberty
Freedom from slavery and tyranny
From oppression and persecution
Freedom to live in harmony
With the Earth and with Heaven




One
Light
For
Law
Justice and equality
Human rights and human dignity
Peaceful coexistence
An end to war and violence




One
Light
For
Leaders
To stand up for liberty and bow to the law
To lead by example with courage and wisdom
To be a hammer that builds as well as a hammer of war
With a passion for peace, for justice, and for freedom




One
Light
For
Letters
Four on a dreidel
Twenty-two in total
Infinite in combination
Endless in education
An alphabet aligned with order
A numbering of our works, days, names
Books—greater than any leader
Knowledge stored transcends our times




One
Light
For
Learning
Reading, writing, remembering
Studying, questioning, understanding
Preserving tradition
Saving continuity from being lost
Moving forward—evolution
Avoiding errors of the past
Teachers—the highest calling
Bring to the world much needed healing




One
Light
For
Life
A sacred gift
Most precious of all
Vessel of the spirit
Root of liberty and law




One
Light
For
Love
Courtship and Family
Friends and Neighbors
Community and Humanity
Creations and Creators




One
Light
For
Laughter
Spinning dreidels
Chocolate gelt
Jelly doughnuts
Potato latkes
Giving gifts
Singing songs
Saying blessings
Children playing
Family visiting
Friends gathering
Lifting hearts
Kissing keppellahs
Glowing candles
Eight nights
Eight lights
Happy Chanukah!




8

8  8  8  8  L  8  8  8  8

L  L  L  L  I  L  L  L  L

A  O  I  E  G  E  E  A  I

U  V  F  A  H  T  A  W  B

G  E  E  R  T  T  D  2  E

H  7  6  N  S  E  E  2  R

T  7  6  I  0  R  R  2  T

E  7  6  N  0  S  S  2  Y

R  7  6  G  0  4  3  2  1

8  7  6  5  0  4  3  2  1

--Lance Strate