The yeasty dough rose twice
Like two hearts levitating
in unfettered freedom and joy
Caught unexpectedly
in the union of a perfect bread

The bread was a psalm of Praise
--a song of Remembrance--
--a lasting covenant with G-d
Who surprises us daily
renewing the ancient Earth
--a permanent record of sacrifice
from the transitory hands which
shaped it
In Eternal partnership...

The bread was a solemn Sacrament
of shared Identity, Pain, Hope
and Promise
The bread was Love and Sharing
in recognition of our common hunger
The Pain was never having enough
to meet each others' needs
The Hope was that "all who are hungry
might come and eat"
The Promise was to use our hands
To knead the dough (with a loving heart
and outstretched arms)
To sustain the spirit of Peace, Healing
and Caring
To defeat
hunger
self-pity
anger
separation
hatred
greed
arrogance
self-destruction
and every nameless urge
of darkened madness
to pull the trigger
on each other

With the same hands
that we must use--in Love--
to Reach the Eternal
To Sustain each other
In the belly of the Spirit
With the hunger of the Soul...
To Give us Each Day
Our Daily Bread...