The Remnant Poem by Peter Eliastam

We are the Branches
of the Olive Tree
Israelites returning
to our Stock
our Root, and Rock,
We are blended
by the Oil of Gold
with Branches
of the wild name,
through Water,
Blood, and Flame.
We are the
Residue, returning
to the Tree,
Wormwood once, where
avalanches
of despair and tears
have ground
two thousand years,
without relief,
in fears and unbelief.
Your Word,
We have disowned
for talmud,
deadwood, wild hay
and stubble.
We have trod the
mud and straw
for rubble of reward.
We are Your
captives, Adonai,
returning to
The Most High Rod of
Jesse’s Stem
Now graft us Lord,
restored to God,
to be Your sevenfold
unblemished
lamp of beaten Gold,
resplendent
in Messiah’s camp,
and good
and brightly burning.