Nishmat beriyah, breath of a creation.
Nishmat rakia, breath of firmament.
Nishmat eretz vamayim, breath of earth and oceans.
Nishmat aisev, breath of plant life.
Nishmat meorot, breath of sun and moon.
Nishmat haya, breath of animal kingdom.
Nishmat adam, breath of human.
Nishmat ochlah, breath of nourishment.
Nishmat shabbat, breath of rest.
Nishmat rakia, breath of firmament.
Nishmat eretz vamayim, breath of earth and oceans.
Nishmat aisev, breath of plant life.
Nishmat meorot, breath of sun and moon.
Nishmat haya, breath of animal kingdom.
Nishmat adam, breath of human.
Nishmat ochlah, breath of nourishment.
Nishmat shabbat, breath of rest.
© 2015 Henry Rasof
Take a deep breath on shabbat morning and read or recite or sing this poem.
Unlike some of the other nishmatim (liturgical poems that go with the prayer about the breath) I have posted to Boulder Jewish News, which precede the nishmat prayer, this one traditionally goes after the prayer and before “Ilu Filu” [“Could song fill our mouth as water fills the sea…” (Siddur Sim Shalom)].
