“THEN I TURNED [TO LOOK] AT ALL MY DEEDS THAT MY HANDS HAD WROUGHT AND UPON THE TOIL THAT I HAD TOILED TO DO, AND BEHOLD EVERYTHING IS VANITY AND FRUSTRATION, AND THERE IS NO PROFIT UNDER THE SUN.”

– Ecclesiastes 2:11

“IT IS SIMILARLY WRITTEN IN THE ZOHAR , COMMENTING ON THE VERSE, “WHAT PROFIT HAS A MAN OF ALL HIS TOIL THAT HE LABORS UNDER THE SUN?” OUR SAGES POINT OUT THAT ONLY MAN’S LABOR “UNDER THE SUN,” I.E., TOIL IN MUNDANE MATTERS, DOES NOT REALIZE ANY PROFIT; THE LABOR OF TORAH, HOWEVER, IS “ABOVE THE SUN” AND DOES INDEED PROFIT A MAN.

– Tanya, Likutei Amarim, Chapter 40

They’re always gliding
sliding
slipping through
my fingers;
like catching the tail-end of a rainbow
or a fleeting phantom.

My life revolved around
those tantalizing moments
when I had them in my sights
seconds before
their mocking glee
again set them free.

There they are again
just out of sight
over there – just around the corner
frolicking in my graying hair
winking at my worn and weary wrinkles
after years of chase.

How did they dare capture
my heart
for so long
whenever day
became night
knowing my sight wasn’t quite right?

© 2020 Chaim Yochanan Cohen – All Rights Reserved