a dance
“Dance with the Angel of Death to the point of Mephistophelian rapture, but pull away in time and don’t leave it too late!”
First he (the Evil Inclination) appears as a passerby, then as a guest and then as host (the Man).
(Talmud, Sukkah 52b)
בתחילה קראו הולך ולבסוף קראו אורח ולבסוף קראו איש
(סוכה, נב ע׳׳ב)
Such is the skill of the Evil Inclination (he manipulates us by persuasion) to cross the line on a trivial matter and - by minute steps - gets us to commit more and more serious violations, leading to idol worship.
(Talmud, Shabbat 105b)
שכך אומנתו של יצה׳׳ר היום אומר לו עשה כך ולמחר אומר לו עשה כך עד שאומר לו עבוד ע׳׳ז והולך ועובד
(מסכת שבת, קה ע׳׳ב)
Resh Lakish said: He is the Accuser, he is the Evil Inclination, he is the Angel of Death (i.e. they are all one).
(Talmud, Bava Batra 16a)
The one who knows us most intimately is the Yetzer Harah (the Evil Inclination), who was responsible for causing our spiritual failings. As he possesses deep knowledge of our character, he is therefore best placed to be the Accuser and then mete out the appropriate punishment as the Angel of Death.
אמר ריש לקיש: הוא שטן הוא יצר הרע הוא מלאך המות
(בבא בתרא, טז ע׳׳א)
All who go there, do not return.
(Proverbs, 2:19)
כל באיה לא ישובון
(משלי, ב:יט)
A DANCE
Sometimes…
But where does it come from?…
I’m overcome by it…
Is it
A guest and a visit
Or am I a guest in its home?
When you arrive
I welcome you
But please
Leave now
When you arrive
We dance in resonance
But please
Leave now
When you arrive
We dance a dance of resonance
But please
Leave now
When you arrive… … …