This volume of contemporary liturgical poetry is both a poetry collection and an aid to devotional prayer. “Open My Lips” dips into the deep well of Jewish tradition and brings forth renewed and renewing adaptations of, and riffs on, classical Jewish liturgy. Here are poems for weekday and Shabbat, festival seasons (including the Days of Awe and Passover), and psalms of grief and praise. “Open My Lips” offers a clear, readable, heartfelt point of access into the Jewish tradition and into prayer in general.
Those who wish to begin a prayer practice in English but don't know where to start will find this volume offers several starting points. These poems could be used to augment an existing prayer practice, Jewish or otherwise-either on a solitary basis or for congregational use. For the reader of poetry unfamiliar with liturgical text, they can serve as an introduction to prayer in general, and Jewish prayer in particular. And for the pray-er unfamiliar with contemporary poetry, these poems can open the door in the other direction.
