Blades of Grass
- Leann Shamash
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
#bamidbar #numbers #bookofnumbers #bladeofgrass #bladesofgrass #census #wordshavewings #torahstudy #poetry
Hi Everyone,
I came up with this idea of blades of grass while walking the dog this week and noticing people's lawns. Parshat Bamidbar begins with a military census of males over twenty years old. The tribes are listed by the names of the sons of Jacob and includes large numbers, that lead to a total of approximately 603,000.
Of this huge number, almost everyone remains nameless. We don't know them and we don't understand how they are faring or what their lives are like. So it is with a field of grass: we see the whole green picture, but what do we know of the individual blades ? Nothing at all.
Yes, I understand that blades of grass are not human and we naturally regard them differently, but anonymity leads to a lack of caring-- whether it be for the unknown blades of grass, for the nameless people in the book of Bamidbar, or people in our own world; including the figures recited hourly on the news in our world regarding homelessness, hunger, immigrants or nameless casualties.
"Blades of Grass" is an exercise in noticing. Nothing more, nothing less. May we all be blessed with the ability to notice one blade of grass in a vast meadow.
Shabbat Shalom,
Leann
Blades of grass,
thousands, tens of thousands
as spring unfolds,
they surround you,
as far as a meadow
as close as a park.
Each blade, thin and nimble;
growing, stretching,
lean when the wind blows
as they crowd close,
shoulder to shoulder they sway.
Far above the blades we note.
It is green.
Blades of grass are meant to be walked upon,
admired for their color;
best blended into the scenery.
That’s it.
Green, slender, pointy.
Its all we need to know.
The story ends here,
or does it?
Let's imagine one tiny blade;
one blade of grass who faces life and death.
one who drinks and breathes.
What is its relation to its neighbors?
Does it have highs and lows?
Does it suffer?
Does it prosper?
Who is this tiny, single blade of grass?
*
What is a census,
if not akin to that wide field
of hundreds, of thousands of humans?
What are their stories,
what are their lives?
Numbers remain just numbers.
Can we wonder
about one person,
akin to that one blade of grass?
Who is he?
Does he suffer?
What is the joy in his life?
What is his sorrow?
What is his story?
So, my friend,
choose your blade of grass.
One blade in a field of hundreds of thousands.
One person in a census of millions
Center in
and consider.
Peel back the anonymity
and inside you will find a person,
and with the person
there is a story
and may we find a story
even in
one blade of grass.
Other posts from Words Have Wings on Parshat Bamidbar
Count, Undercount, Miscount, Discount
https://www.wordshavewings.net/post/tee-shirts-we-wear-our-hearts-on-our-sleeves-and-our-flags-on-our-shirts. We Wear Our Flags on Our Shirts
https://www.wordshavewings.net/post/bamidbar-in-the-desert. In the Desert
https://www.wordshavewings.net/post/the-count-in-fours. The Count in Fours
פְּקֻדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה רְאוּבֵ֑ן שִׁשָּׁ֧ה וְאַרְבָּעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וַחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃ {פ}
those enrolled from the tribe of Reuben: 46,500.
פְּקֻדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה שִׁמְע֑וֹן תִּשְׁעָ֧ה וַחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וּשְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃ {פ}
those enrolled from the tribe of Simeon: 59,300
פְּקֻדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה גָ֑ד חֲמִשָּׁ֤ה וְאַרְבָּעִים֙ אֶ֔לֶף וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת וַחֲמִשִּֽׁים׃ {פ}
those enrolled from the tribe of Gad: 45,650.
פְּקֻדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה יְהוּדָ֑ה אַרְבָּעָ֧ה וְשִׁבְעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת
those enrolled from the tribe of Judah: 74,600.
Bamidbar Chapter 1
Comments