Blessing for Beginnings by Is Perlman

Blessing for Beginnings

IS PERLMAN

I. הָתַָּא ךְוּרָבָּ

Blessed are you belly hair, soft and tender, straightening when the water runs over, curling when I draw my hand back. Blessed are you, holy endocrinologist psychiatrist letter signed by therapist, blessed are you holy text,

EXPRESSED A PERSISTENT DESIRE.

Blessed is the prophecy in Times New Roman.

G-d, king of the universe, of gender dysphoria and testosterone cypionate, of Leslie Feinberg and Audre Lorde and Stormé DeLarverie,

II. םלָ ועֹהָ ךְלֶ מֶ ,ונּיהֵ לֹאֱ ָיְי

You Knew that I ate the bread before the prayer was finished, that I opened my eyes during the Shema, that I am too hungry for my own good, that I want too much and

work too little, hesitate a moment too long before pulling the needle out from the thigh.

TRANSLATIONS

הָתַָּא ךְוּרָבָּ — Baruch atah, Blessed Are You םלָ ועֹהָ ךְלֶ מֶ ,ונּיהֵ לֹאֱ ָיְי — Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, Adonai our G-d, Sovereign of all