Bathing: The Mikvah

Poem written by Em Meuller, used with permission from the author

For my sixtieth birthday I submerged
myself in rain water gathered in
barrels, pumped through tubes to a
pool in a room built with Jerusalem
stone and lights quiet as candles.

Life exists in the preparation:
clean under your nails — toes and
fingers, a Q-tip for your ears, belly
button; tooth brush taken from an
unwrapped box; wash your hair,
body.

Cleansed, wrap yourself in a towel
large as a bed sheet and step into
the holy space where water
transforms you into blessing.