Faisal Mohyuddin reads “The Faces of the Holy”

The transcript is a reflection on a poem dedicated to Helen Deegan Cohen, a Holocaust survivor and mentor. It explores themes of holiness, heartache, and history, portraying the holy as ashes and smoke. The poem delves into the human heart's capacity to bear history's heartache and the library of loss. It highlights the transformation of destruction into beauty and remembrance, guided by the voices of the dead. Poets play a crucial role in communing with history and healing the unhealable anguish of others.

How does the poem describe the relationship between the living and the dead?

What does the text suggest about the nature of holiness in relation to healing?