GuesT ColumNisT

N

We Begin
To Grow

Elana Ackerman

Special to AppleTree

Elana wrote this first poem after hearing that it finally rained in Israel
following a severe drought.

E ana Ackerman, 12,
loves to read, write,
dance and act. She
lives in Birmingham and
attends Hiller Day
School of Metropolitan
Detroit in Farmington

A needed hunger for a bath
on the dusty streets
in our land of hope
clink and tap on leaves
drops of a crystallized blue
trickle down my short hair
and dresses my clothes
in a dance of lemon drops
I dance with all of us
in the land of promise
our promised land
I dance with promised rain
a response to our

Present From

I stood there, waiting.
My Father said,
"It would make us a
civilized nation."
My Mother said,
"It would make us
special and unique,
different from all other people."
I stood there, waiting.
Eyeing the path of the
Mountain of G-d,
Mount Sinai.

I picture myself
Standing next to Moses,
his old, wrinkled hands
grabbing my Torah
from G-d.
I see G-d's hands
writing the Torah.
Fog pushes back land,
and it looks like the world
has been put to an end.
But nothing else matters..,
This is the only happening

now accomplished prayers
a desperate hunger tugs on
the roofs of houses and
the tops of trees
a craving ground of honey
swallows the milk of the clouds
palm trees with leaves
hanging down
like a weeping willow
crying because of an
accomplished promise
sand turns to mud
as praying turns to rain.

G-d

in the world right now.
I feel tiny
compared to the big, gray bear
of the mountain
that is surrounded
by a pool of people at its base.
I am a child,
smaller than the youngest star.
I am an insect.
I am very much human.

Have you or your child
or grandchild written a
story, poem or essay you
think would be great for
AppleTree? If so, please
send it our way. Material
should be typed, double-
spaced and no longer
than 1-1/2 pages. All
submissions must focus
on Jewish history, culture,
religion
or family life.
While we welcome
essays about family and
frierids, these must
include a relevant Jewish
theme. For example:
How did this person influ-
ence your Jewish life
today, or what was it like
growing up Jewish in
another decade, or what
important contributions
did this person make to
the Jewish community?
Please, do not send
essays simply telling how
wonderful your parent,
grandparent, child is.
A photograph of the
author is appreciated,
and include a brief biog-
raphy including the
writer's age, city of resi-
dence, school and hob-
bies. Mail to: Submis-
sions, c/o AppleTree,
27676 Franklin Road,
Southfield, MI 48034,
fax to (248) 354-6069,
or e-mail to

philapple@eart
link.net . We reserve

the right to edit all materi-
al. Please, do not call
our offices to ask when
your submission will
appear.

12/17

1999

117