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.
Beth El members are creative, thoughtful and articulate about all sorts of things, and this blog shares our feelings and opinions about our synagogue, Judaism, current events, the arts, and more. Read more »