Gershon Wolf Poet Verse

The Old Scribe

his tired eyes yet sparkled with the love of his craft
a love steeped in awe and fear of its impact
the hunched shoulders hovered o'er each stroke of his pen
a quill dipped in an inkwell lined with holy men

frayed ritual fringes swaying this way and that
humming a wordless melody as a zaydie will do
midst reverie about heavenly angels he's winking at
or recalling a tender moment with his grandson of two

but of a sudden, all's darkness
zaydie's head thuds on his workbench
his lamp extinguished for aye ~
the noble craft of a mensch



                 June 27, 2020
        The Old Scribe Poetry Contest
            Sponsor: Craig Cornish
_________________________________________________________
Notes:   The Jewish 'scribe' (sofer) was and is a time-honored profession

            'zaydie' is Yiddish for grandfather
             a 'mensch' is Yiddish for a person of honor, integrity

             No capital letters were used, in order to help convey the
           innate modesty of a scribe of holy books.

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Aditi Mishra July 28, 2020 at 10:22 AM Your muse reflects layered tales with such vibrant emotions Gershon. It is a sheer pleasure to read it and feel enchanted. Congratulations on your win. Blessings :) Gershon Wolf August 2, 2020 at 12:25 PM Such a lovely comment. Hope my poem deserves 1/2 of the praise you gave it. Thank you, Aditi! :) gw

Sam Kauffman July 24, 2020 at 9:09 PM Your words bring great honor to the "scribe" - a person revered for many centuries. I am so glad you entered this poem. It is very special and going into my "favs." Congratulations! Please write more that express the beauty of Judiasm. Gershon Wolf August 2, 2020 at 12:25 PM Sam, thank you for such an enthusiastic comment. I'll see what I can do about fulfilling your request, without getting overbearing, preachy, or heavy-handed. Gotta watch myself! Thanks, again. :) gw

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart July 23, 2020 at 2:16 PM Beautiful, endearing piece Gershon. Congratulations for your win, xomo! Gershon Wolf July 25, 2020 at 9:09 PM Hey, thanks for noticing me way down there on the list. Appreciate your support always, my dear friend. Peace and Light, Gershon

Line Gauthier July 23, 2020 at 1:07 PM A beautiful tribute, Gershon. Love it ~ Bravo! Gershon Wolf July 23, 2020 at 1:31 PM Line, I know that it takes a special person to appreciate this 'heavy-on-the-Jewish-stuff' write. I honestly didn't think I'd get a placement with it, but I wanted more than one person to read it, if possible. Thank you so much for your enthusiasm about this, one of my own "self-favorites," to use a ridiculous term, for lack of a better one. Thanks again, Gershon

Tom Cunningham June 28, 2020 at 1:20 AM Love the imagery here Gershon, can just see him quill in hand writing away taking his time, long white beard and round glasses. Good luck in the contest Tom Gershon Wolf June 28, 2020 at 1:24 PM Thank you so much for the appreciation on this one, Tom. Best to you! :) Gershon