Velveteen Rabbi

Think of you
with every action.

If I knew
you were watching

would I change
what I do?

Will you nod,
proud of me

and my backbone
or my kindness

or sigh and
shake your head

that I caved
when a bully

pushed too hard,
that I forgot

my best intentions
and fell short?

All I want:
for my acts

to find favor
in your eyes.

I'm participating again this year in #blogElul, an internet-wide carnival of themed posts aimed at waking the heart and soul before the Days of Awe. (Organized by Ima Bima.) Read #blogElul posts via the Elul tag; you might also enjoy my collection of Elul poems which arose out of #blogElul a few years ago, now available in print and e-book form as See Me: Elul poems.