For Shabbat

On Shabbat
anger lines are suspended and
estranged parents bless children
together
We are a village again -
Raising each other's children;
Praising each other's achievements;
Laughing together
We leave our baggage at the door -
All of our petty
and legitimately painful histories;
All of our irritations, grievances and 
jealousies; We
pretend
For the sake of peace
For the sake of family
For the sake of coming together
For Shabbat
The pretending becomes 
a sacred reality
We are a perfect family
for a moment
We choose to come to the table as
our best selves
And it's fragile
And over too quickly
And we do it over each week
Each time
A miracle

- EKG'17