Saving the World

Do you remember leaving your ego behind,
Having no need to defend the minds “I”?
It often happens when your back,
Not your brain, triumphs.

We three volunteers, joined 15 others,
Performing chores,
If just for 3 weeks,
That might have meaning.

Something happened day one.
I counted 9 non-jews, 9 women
And nine people over 30.
18 Zionists out to save the world.

OK, maybe not the world,
Possibly, not even Israel.
As back up replacements for warehouse soldiers
We performed such high risk functions as blanket folding.

Before dismissing our efforts,
Honestly rendered,
Consider an army without folded blankets
One shudders.

Finished by 3 PM,
We tended to settle into small groups,
Based not on age, economics, sex or academics.
Rather we found one another through humor and beliefs.

Not religious beliefs but humanitarian ones.
For most this wasn’t their first volunteer effort.
We quickly were family, siblings,
Sharing histories, bullshit and causes.

Joining us in the final week
A member of our sponsors New York office
Brought his perceived role with him.
We did not let him in.

He existed with us, but not of us.
His presence allowed us to see
How we had joined hands.
Not forever more, but for this occasion.