Gershon Wolf Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

On Israeli (agricultural) kibbutzim years ago, the highest prestige jobs were in the fields; the lowest-prestige jobs were in the kitchen/dining room or in a classroom, teaching newcomers Hebrew.  They were reluctantly accepted by those who simply couldn't perform hard, physical work anymore...

A Sweet Bird

Lined face and hands of leather
   Her body punished by blazing-hot weather
She'd worked the fields for 50-plus years
   Her energy drained, along with the swamps
      ~For the kibbutz whose ideals she held so dear...

Shopworn and spent in her shapeless frock
   Offered a menial job in a kitchen smock
She volunteered to teach immigrants Hebrew instead
   The time had come to depend on her mind, she said...

Her classroom had no board, just tables and chairs
   Nor was there a breath of fresh air in there
The temperature outside nearly one-hundred ten
   Inside just two fans --Can you imagine?

Yet she taught us to converse from the very first
   In just a month, we could handle most situations
We could shop for clothes and order food too
   Buy tickets for a ride on the bus or in the train station

She taught most of us to speak Hebrew fluently 
   Her lessons with our objectives meshed congruently
Her name was Tsiporah; it means 'a sweet bird'
   Her language teaching the sweetest music we'd ever heard



             October 06, 2019
   Favorite Teacher or Professor Contest
       Sponsor: Chantelle Anne Cooke

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Eve Roper November 1, 2019 at 11:30 PM A great tribute , Gershon , congratulations on your winning placement. Hugs Eve Gershon Wolf November 4, 2019 at 1:38 PM Thank you for such a sweet comment, Eve! Warm wishes Gershon

Anne-Lise Andresen October 31, 2019 at 2:09 PM - A teacher who gave so much more ... congratulations on your great winning poem, Gershon - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Gershon Wolf October 31, 2019 at 4:38 PM Thank you so much, Anne-Lise. And congratulations to you for your heartwarming write about the professor who integrated history and mathematics---and wrapped it all up with the gift of music! Your last few lines there inspired me to write the poem, 'In the Key of Life,' which I just posted a few minutes ago. Thank you so much! (See soup mail too, please). Warmest wishes, Gershon

Lindsay Laurie October 9, 2019 at 9:32 PM Hello Gershon … a story like you wrote is worth telling and listening to. People like Tsiporah are really the salt of the earth and they do live a full life - thank you Gershon - Lindsay Gershon Wolf October 9, 2019 at 9:40 PM Thank you, Lindsay, for commenting appreciatively about this remarkable teacher and women. Blessings, Gershon

Kim Rodrigues October 6, 2019 at 8:36 PM A lovely tribute, Gershon! Gershon Wolf October 6, 2019 at 8:45 PM Thank you so much, Kim. Tsiporah was a great teacher, and an incredible human being. Appreciate your encouragement. Warm wishes, Gershon

Sandra Adams October 6, 2019 at 7:02 PM to leave you penning such a beautiful poem in her honor she must have been a great teacher....great poem my friend, beautifully penned :) hugs Gershon Wolf October 6, 2019 at 7:37 PM Unimaginably good, this teacher was. No formal schooling beyond age 14 either. She was a 'pioneer' of the Kibbutz I mentioned. 95% of her 'comrades' either died or returned to Russia after working a few months of 18-hour days draining swamps in primitive conditions. She was tough as nails, but with the heart and mind of a great educator. Whew! ~ Gershon

Arturo Michael October 6, 2019 at 4:31 PM A wonderful teacher indeed...and a heart felt write too...Well done mt friend Gershon Wolf October 6, 2019 at 6:48 PM Thank you so much, Arturo! She was quite a teacher, quite an inspirational person. ~ Gershon