Anthems

A rousing, visceral, “Star Spangled Banner”
Reverberated throughout capacious Symphony Hall.
200 Musicians performed our national anthem.
To a standing audience of 4,000.

A triumphant, proud statement,
Proclaimed progress over forces seeking
To dominate our “United States”.

Without pause, so that attendees
Had no opportunity to sit,
The Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra
Proceeded with their own anthem, “Hatikvah”.
Played in a minor key,
Plaintively painting an ineffable sadness,
A plea for peace and acceptance.

A strange juxtaposition.
Color one anthem bright red, the other soft gray.
A metaphor of a ship battling victoriously through the night,
Compared with an abstract of ascending , but sober, softening tones.
One portraying a mighty struggle,
A new nation, brave and victorious.
Contrasting with the other,
Beseeching the heavens for a safe home.

Two voices, two messages.
One carried the hopes of youth
The other reflected a calamitous history.
Neither will pass quietly into that long night.