B’reishit

In the beginning 
there was
          residue 
          tohu vavohu
from what came before;
from other beginnings 
          and endings

This is just One beginning in an endless universe
          (a multiverse?)
of beginnings

In the beginning there was
          Hope and 
          Grief
                    intermingled
Forward-looking,
baggage-carrying,
enthusiastic optimism and
timid trepidation 

Will that which happened before 
          happen again?

Will this beginning be the last of the beginnings
          or 
must we begin anew 
sometime
                    in the future
as in the past?

In the beginning there was chaos
and formation
and judgment -
          This is good. 
          This is very good.
(Is this good?)

In the beginning 
there is what is unknown
          and what is known;
What is expected and 
          what cannot be anticipated

In the beginning 
there is breath -
A sharp intake -

and then a step
          into the next moment
almost imperceptible,

leaving the beginning behind.

EKG’19