Turning
Twice each day the sea —
the scarred lungs of our planet —
advances
breathing out
to erase the sins
visited on the shore
Twice each day the sea
recedes
breathing in
to offer forgiveness
a chance to begin anew
Twice each day the sea
upholds
the Promise
that the waters will never again
overtake the land
Twice each day the sea
reveals
how small we are
and how great the consequences
of our actions
Twice each day the sea
reminds us
renewal is always possible
redemption is as close as breath
repair is but one step away
Alex Carter (she/her) lives and writes in Hyattsville, MD. Her work re/imagines LGBTQ+ folk into Jewish myth and lore, and explores identity, belonging, and connection. She has been published in Ritualwell and several anthologies, and was featured in the 2026 DC Pride Poems project. She believes you can never have too many notebooks.
105 Hudson Road, Sudbury, MA 01776
(978) 443-9622|Email Us
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Alex Carter is one of my favorite people, and I always enjoy her creative writing. Thank you for shairing her work here.
August 21, 2026 at 3:51 pmI appreciated this poem and its reinforcing words about what Teshuvah is all about and particularly liked this last stanza.
Many thanks, l’shana tova to you, Maxine (from Boston)
Twice each day the sea
August 21, 2026 at 6:16 pmreminds us
renewal is always possible
redemption is as close as breath
repair is but one step away
Gorgeous ! Thank you.
August 26, 2026 at 3:50 pmAlex Carter is remarkably soulful and her writing reflects it. This particular poem is absolutely perfect for the season. Toda raba, Alex!
August 30, 2026 at 11:07 pm