“FROM THE DEPTHS I HAVE CRIED OUT TO YOU, L-RD.” –PSALMS 130:1

THERE IS NO CORRECTION FOR THE DEFICIENCIES AND DEFECTS CAUSED BY ONE’S SINS OTHER THAN VIA AN AROUSAL OF THE “SUPERNAL DEPTHS.” WHEN FOR EXAMPLE A RIVER DRIES UP, THE ONLY WAY TO REPLENISH IT IS BY DIGGING DEEPLY INTO ITS UNDERLYING WELLSPRINGS – CONNECTING WITH THE SOURCE OF THE ORIGINAL FLOW. THIS IS THE IDEA BEHIND “FROM THE DEPTHS I HAVE CRIED OUT TO YOU, L-RD.” AND HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT THIS? BY WAY OF CALLING TO G-D FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE HEART, MANIFEST ONLY AS A CRY AND NOT AS A SPOKEN WORD.

– Likutei Torah, Rosh HaShannah 54:3

From the depths of blackness

where light no longer lingers

I heard the anguished cry of an animal.

Plaintive

full of remorse

bewildered and wounded.

The walls reverberated

shuddering and stunned

by the raw and ragged sound

of its ripped scab.

It took a dazed moment or two

to recognize that this straining twisting spiraling sound

growling from the depths

ripping the rib cage of pain

was mine.

And then, at last, a shattered sigh –

followed by a hush

so loud

that only an echo of the bellowing

remained in my belly.