Unpredictable

On a podcast, our interlocutor, Sruli Rips, while riffing on the Talmudic discussion of inheritance, notes such becomes complicated when “the malakei ha-mevet — the angel of death — is unpredictable”.

When the malakei ha-mevat—
the Angel of death —
makes her visits at times
more or less agreeable,
in a proper sequence,
entering the room and
to bedside with
grace and mercy,
we are saddened by
her presence, even 
if expected.
The sorrows slip away,
at a proper and agreeable
pace.  The scars thicken over.
Perhaps fade, perhaps vanish.

When the malakei ha-mevat —
the Angel of death —
makes her visits at times
unpredictable and outside
what we may deem
the right and proper
sequence;
maybe not even entering
the room
or
attending to bedside,
grace and mercy
are hidden from us,
sorrows and its scars
cling to us.
And rarely fade, nor vanish.

Do we not long for a world
in which the malakei ha’mevat —
the Angel of death —
keeps her appointments
at the proper time,
in an agreeable 
sequence?
But I do not think
I would want to note
that appointment 
on my calendar. 
Just as long as
the time is 
more or less
Agreeable.