The fast is over.  This year everything is allowed tonight other than meat.  And yet.

I wrote half of this at Minchah time and the second half following Maariv:

Isaiah says

sometimes

G-d is near

sometimes 

He can be found

Isaiah says

G-d's thoughts

are not ours

His ways

not our ways

Isaiah says

rain falls

to nurture

so too G-d's word

does not return

unfulfilled

I pray

always

for G-d to be close

always

Please, may I find him

I say

I feel G-d's closeness

when I internalize

how different 

we are

I hope

Tisha Be'Av

does not go

before you and I

and all of us

have changed

May we be blessed to be there for each other in difficult times, to have someone there for us, to know that G-d is with us always, to know that we always have and can count on our selves.  G-d please help us to come away strengthened from this day that weaked us for the moment.  I know that after I take one drink, one bite, things will feel different - as the strengths and weaknesses of being human enter my picture again.  G-d, please bless us all to feel secure about our questions.