Yearning for More — A Poem to Enhance Your Evening Prayers

Here you are once again watching the
Heavenly bodies swirl in the skies
Having the time of your life

Even with constant turmoil
Everywhere you turn, whether morning or
Evening, wherever you look

Nothing can stop you now,
Not the moon nor the
North star nor the midday sun

Respect your inner lights, dress in
Rags if you can, let yourself
Revolve around the only fixed star

Your whole life depends on
Yearning for more than you see, more than
You want at this moment

This liturgical poem, or piyyut, is a ma’arvit, meant to be sung, recited, silently read, or just contemplated during the evening service–Ma’ariv–either daily or on Shabbat. A good place for this poem is after the first blessing before Kriyat Shema–

Praised are You, Lord our God…whose word brings the evening dusk…. Baruch Atah Adonai, ha-ma’ariv aravim. Praised are You…for each evening’s dusk.*

Here you are once again… (the poem goes here).

*From Jules Harlow, ed. and trans., Siddur Sim Shalom: A Prayerbook for Shabbat, Festivals, and Weekdays. New York: The Rabbinical Assembly and The United Synagogue of America, 1985.