A tear? As in the kind that rips the curtain, not the wet kind.
Yes! A tear or rend. All the verses I used for each verse of the poem/riddle use rend or rent but they mean tear.
Good work.
During my time you shall not sew.
(time to rend and a time to sew)
By using me the sickness goes.
(the priest rends the leprosy from the garment)
Ashes join to bear our grief.
(sack cloth ashes and rending of garments)
The soldiers cast for my relief.
(soldiers cast lots to avoid rending Christ's robe)
The dogs threaten this effect.
(dogs and pigs may turn and rend you in rejection of the pearls)
Untempered walls do not protect.
Now a veil can be crossed.
(the temple veil was rent)
For I am the sign of a priesthood lost.
(the old testament priest were instructed to never rend their robe)
(the high priest did though when questioning Jesus)
