Gershon Wolf | + Follow Poet |
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My Brother's Keeper

When an Amish village in Iowa once burnt down
   Their brethren in Pennsylvania gathered round
They decided at once to put their own lives on hold
   To their dear brothers' aid in horse-drawn wagons they rolled

You can imagine the delight on the Iowans' faces
   When they heard the clop-clop of those horses' paces
Quickly they prepared a hearty meal for their guests
   Then went to work together -- This was no time to rest

They rebuilt that village, house by house and barn by barn
   You have my word: This story is true; it's no idle yarn
In just three short weeks, the whole job was done
   So, the guests packed up their wagons and rode back home

In the event of a catastrophe like a flood or a fire
   Insurance is something Amish do not require
For they live by an adage we'd be wise to remember
   'I am my brother's keeper,' now and forever

Copyright © Gershon Wolf | Year Posted 2020

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Sally Eslinger Date: 9/19/2020 6:49:00 PM Oh, yes! And te flow of this true story you told is as precise and elegant in purpose as the brotherly lovr of which it speaks. I was born inLancasterCo., PA. Their clean witnessing to God’s will is all apparent. Thankyoufor your witness, too! Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/21/2020 7:27:00 PM Thanks for the appreciation, Sally. Blessings, Gershon

Linda Alice Fowler Date: 9/15/2020 7:00:00 PM I like the sense of community and brotherhood. We all should be more aware and giving. laf Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/16/2020 8:58:00 AM For sure... The Amish set a great example for the rest of us. :) gw

Caren Krutsinger Date: 9/15/2020 12:43:00 PM I know this is true. However it is not just the Amish in Iowa who are willing to do this. It is pretty much all of the townspeople living in every small town in Iowa who would do this and most of them are not Amish. Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/15/2020 5:57:00 PM No kidding. Never would have thunk it! But very, very glad to hear it! There's still hope, I guess...

Robert L. Hinshaw Date: 9/14/2020 10:17:00 AM A splendid story, Gershon, in poetic form. We need more of the traits exhibited by those kind and gentle folk. Bob Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/14/2020 11:40:00 AM We surely do, Bob. Here's to the Amish. :) gw

Daniel Turner Date: 9/14/2020 7:20:00 AM Yes Gershon this old world would be a better place if we all were our brother's keeper. However the reality is, it's every man for himself and me first. Nicely penned and i love the message. Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/14/2020 11:39:00 AM When did 'me first' start in this country? It wasn't that way in WW2, that's for sure. Do we need another World War, perhaps an invasion from outer space, to bring us to our senses?! Apparently, we do. All the crises of 2020 just seem to divide us further... Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Daniel

Evelyn Judy Buehler Date: 9/13/2020 9:32:00 PM No man is an island, as the song goes. Together we we are stronger. Your awesome poem shows great evidence of this. Heartwarming! Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/14/2020 11:36:00 AM Thank you for the endorsement, Evelyn. May we all work together to solve problems, instead of 'virtue signaling,' as is the fashion today! ~ Action Jackson

Panagiota Romios Date: 9/13/2020 8:11:00 PM CA has wildfires in Northern and Southern CA now. It's a new way of protesting. Burn the state to nothing?? People and organizations are doing what they can. Imagine the size of CA to an Amish Village! Worse ?..how does one rebuild with social distancing? Air quality is horrendous is some places, worse, GW,the fires still rage!!This will cost CA billions. We do our best.this state is a disaster. 22 dead...businesses amd homes gone. Great message..,Pangie xx Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/14/2020 11:35:00 AM I don't know how to respond. This is perhaps THE tragedy of 2020, as the long term implications go far beyond the horrific consequences we currently face. Can't expect much help from Washington D.C., I'm afraid...

Michelle Faulkner Date: 9/13/2020 8:00:00 PM This hits close to my heart, as you know, we are dealing with many wildfires right now - the good news is we were downgraded to level one earlier today, so it looks like we will not need to evacuate - but your message here is so pure and reassuring! Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 9/14/2020 11:33:00 AM To me, the situation with wild fires in the west is beyond an emergency. Why isn't the federal government committing resources and manpower to contain and stop the blazes. This is urgent. Can you believe that the sun and the skies in Chicago are dimmed from the smoke out west today. It's similar to what happened from Mt. St. Helens 40 years ago. ~ gw