50,000 Moons

50,000 Moons, 
Since the birth of Abraham, 
A world replete with ruins, 
Graves like grains of sand.

50,000 Moons, 
Have watched my people grow, 
50,000 Moons, 
And what do we have to show? 

Abraham was born, 
Beneath a torrid sky,
Samson’s hair was shorn, 
On the watch of the same eye. 

I have seen my moons, 
One hundred or so at least, 
But I don’t know what they mean, 
Since you stole from me my priest. 

David was the King,
And Solomon his son, 
The songs my people sing, 
Are the same that they had sung. 

Jerusalem of gold, 
Babylon of gray, 
50,000 moons old, 
50,000 since that day. 

Abraham was right, 
Everyone else was wrong, 
50,000 moons later,
His wisdom’s standing strong. 

I have seen the fire,
I have felt the flames, 
50,000 wooden pyres, 
How they tried to make us tame. 

And when Akiva burned, 
When Jerusalem was sacked, 
There was nowhere left to turn – 
The sky had all gone black.

But our people never wavered,
They did not give up the call, 
Our bodies burnt like paper, 
But our spirit’s standing tall.  

50,000 moons, 
Since the birth of Abraham, 
Since he marched across the dunes, 
Seeking something more than man.

50,000 moons, 
Since the birth of Abraham, 
His truth has brought us doom,  
But it’s all I understand.