RainBows and Arrows, a prayer-poem by Darcy Grabenstein

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=61394

open_content_license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license date_src_start: 2025-04-11 date_src_end: 2025-04-11 languages_meta: [{"name":"English","code":"eng","standard":"ISO 639-3"}] scripts_meta: [{"name":"Latin","code":"Latn","standard":"ISO 15924"}]

Date: 2025-04-15

Last Updated: 2025-04-16

Categories: Parashat Noaḥ, Yom haQeshet (Day of the Rainbow, 27 Iyyar), 🌐 LGBT Pride Day (June 28th)

Tags: 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, LGBTQIA+, Prayers as poems

Excerpt: A prayer-poem inspired by the story of Noah and the ark to embrace all people regardless of gender identity or whom they love. . . .


Content:
I wrote this prayer-poem, inspired by the story of Noah and the ark, to embrace all people regardless of gender identity or whom they love.


RainBows and Arrows
G!d, you chose a beautiful rainbow
as a signal to Noaḥ
after the floods had receded
that all would be spared

Just as the ark held life and hope,
the multicolored rainbow
held the promise
of Your covenant

How fitting that the rainbow
is a symbol of diversity
embracing all those who walk
side-by-side, two-by-two

How sorrowful that,
like bows and arrows,
the ignorant use words
to inflict heart-piercing pain

And so I ask as we navigate
the waters of life:
Guide us towards sheltering
all in the ark of our neshamah.

Contributor: Darcy Grabenstein

Co-authors:

Featured Image:
Rainbow over horizon (Francesco Ungaro CC0))
Title: Rainbow over horizon (Francesco Ungaro CC0))
Caption: Rainbow over horizon (Francesco Ungaro CC0))