Beyond all praise

Back from morning prayer

God  praised, again and again

looking everywhere 

to find His hint in the company of men

Again  words declaring

Magnified and Sanctified be your name

Kaddish- worshipers daring

To assure Him of His fame

honored, adored

exalted, acclaimed

toward heaven sounds soared

lofty thoughts  inadequately framed

in a flash, image biting

piercing message, an alarm

father blessing reciting

choking words at life’s harm

wooden boxes in sight

seven in number

angels now taking flight

bodies buried in slumber

children’s smiles and laughter

 now cinder and smoke

infinite pain that comes after

can God’s name one invoke?

“Above all praise”

can these words that follow

drown out dread and the daze

lifting heart, hard  and  hollow

Beyond love and fear

way out of mind’s reach

nothing far, nothing near

can life’s sorrow slightly breach

For a story book ending

we pray God would show

but life  keeps on sending

tiny coffins in a row.