KI TISSA

They saw Moshe go up into the cloud.
Then days and weeks went by, while Aharon
Led and encouraged them as best he could
In the absence of the Great Light that had shone
Upon him through Moshe. It went on too long.
On the fortieth day the rumors swelled like yeast,
A spirit of confusion led them wrong.
Now certain that Moshe was dead, they pressed
Aharon hard, until he made the calf.
If they had just held out for one more day,
They'd have been lifted above kings and death.
But now their gold was ash, the tablets lay
Shattered and blank, the covenant seemed in shreds.
Moshe had hard work to lift up their heads.