for Catherine, my daughter, on her birthday
Muhammad was 40 when archangel
Gabriel gave him the Quran’s first words,
the Muslims believe. Christian legend tells
how Jesus fasted 40 days, then heard
the devil’s tempting voice, but didn’t bite.
Jewish men must reach 40 to study
Kabbalah: seek eternal and finite
connection. It seems spirit’s history
revisits this sacred number time and
again, like your eternal return to
spirit’s light in your art, love’s sacred hand
sculpting inspired vision of all that’s true
in every being and object your age
and sense reveal…lead you to the next stage.
Roger Armbrust
August 21,
2012
