Going through a closet,
I was quite surprised to find
Several shopping bags of t-shirts
That my son had left behind.
While looking at them, one by one,
I realized they portrayed
His entire growing up, through college,
Starting in first grade.
The school shirts featured P.S. 6,
Then Wagner Junior High,
With a special few from Stuyvesant,
Where high school years flew by.
Another group had characters
From movies or TV –
Pee Wee Herman, Austin Powers
And the Simpsons’ family tree.
There was Beavis, there was Butthead
And the South Park kids, as well
As World Series shirts and Yankees;
(We’re New Yorkers, you can tell).
Favor shirts from his Bar Mitzvah
Nestled near the travel trove –
Shirts from Scotland and from Israel,
Plus some places where we drove.
Then the final category,
From his favorite billiards hall,
Where the hours spent resulted
In those plaques upon his wall.
As a grown-up and a parent,
His collection’s surely grown,
But I love these sweet reminders
Of his younger self I’ve known.
Categories:
bar mitzvah, nostalgia, son,
Form: Rhyme
A Jew looks at the blue of his ritual fringe *
thinks of the wonderful world he's in
The deep blue of the sea meets the horizon
blue shades of the sky his eye's on
'Til he arrives at the Throne of Glory, where sits the King
Who inspires him to do all the right things
~ that to Heaven helps earthlings wing
_____________________________________________________
* Note:'Ritual fringes' are found attached to the ends of prayer
shawls worn by married Orthodox Jewish men and some
post-bar-mitzvah boys in synagogue, as well as by some
Conservative and Reform Jewish men and women. Almost
all Orthodox males over three years old also wear a lighter
four-cornered garment, with ritual fringes attached, under
their shirts during waking hours. During Temple times, one
of the fringes was a deep blue color. (Not now, but we use
our imaginations). ~ gw
Categories:
bar mitzvah, flying, god, growth, heaven,
Form: Couplet
He was famous for being famous,
Nobody knew what he’d done:
But he was famous for being famous
And that was good enough some.
And he was there at every function
Party, Birthday, Bar Mitzvah, barbecue
In fact if he wasn't there
It just wasn't considered a do.
When asked why he was famous
He’d give an enigmatic smile
And the question was forgotten
In a very little while.
And then the police arrested him
On suspicion of a long past crime
And some said they’d had
Their suspicions all the time.
And then the police released him
With not stain on his name
People said no smoke
Without fire just the same.
He put his house Up For Sale
And then he was gone,
Just upped and packed his bags
And so very quietly moved on.
For weeks it was the topic
Of our quiet village life
Until a certain worthy was found
In bed with the wrong wife
He'd been famous for being famous
Nobody knew what he’d dome
But he was famous for being famous
And that was good enough some.
Categories:
bar mitzvah, humor, irony,
Form: Rhyme
.
Out mine vindow
as if i
breaking some
fast
Mine eyne devour
The she
In the vind’s gust
az vind does with ease
cause lift
hern
she
* ("vind": wind, etc.) artistic license mine poetic friendz
'' ''
;) james
Categories:
bar mitzvah, allegory, autumn, beauty,
Form: Free verse
At eleven years old, by my Dad I was told
that I'd soon be enrolled, in a special Hebrew program
Try it for a year, my son, my dear
Do not fear: It'll be over before you know it
Hebrew you'll learn; for Torah you'll yearn
To God you will turn. You'll thank me for this in the long run
Well, my Dad was plain wrong. That year felt so long
It dragged and dragged along. Then, voila! It just ended
My Bar Mitzvah was good. I did my job like I should
Ate as much food as I could. And told my father I was quitting
My Dad was so sad. He felt I'd gone bad
Didn't care I was glad. Told me I'd made a mistake...
Years and years passed. My resolve didn't last
Just as my Dad had forecast. He'd been right all along
To God I had turned. For Torah I yearned
Hebrew I burned to relearn. But now I was sad
For Dad had passed away. His kindness unrepaid
At his gravesite I pray ~ that he accept my gratitude undying
September 01, 2020
Attitude of Gratitude Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Francine Roberts
Categories:
bar mitzvah, appreciation, father son, inspirational,
Form: Rhyme
In Judaism, at 13,
A boy becomes a man
With Torah* reading and a party;
That’s the standard plan.
But Yisrael Kristal missed his chance -
The war got in the way –
And then 100 years passed by –
He’s 113 today!
The oldest living male, they say,
Surviving Hitler’s reign,
Though something made him rise above
His Auschwitz grief and pain.
So finally, he’ll take his place
When he will now recite,
A century past due, the prayers
For his Bar Mitzvah** rite.
This story is amazing and
Quite touching, even though,
It’s obvious that he became
A man quite long ago.
*holy book written on a scroll
**the ceremony at which a boy becomes a man
Categories:
bar mitzvah, age, jewish,
Form: Rhyme
When life's not going right
Guess you could say it's going wrong
Do what it is I always do
Pick up the telephone
Dial my favorite number
They've never steered me wrong
Of course that number is
1-800-Not My Fault
In any situation
At any given time
#1 on my speed dial
Connects me directly to their line
I seem to call it often
Not giving it much thought
My fingers know just where to go
1-800-Not My Fault
Missed your anniversary?
Or the twins Bar Mitzvah?
To avoid all the yelling and crying
Do it out of love
Remember this time around
You won't be doing it for naught
So pick up the telephone
1-800-Not My Fault
Cooking in the kitchen
You set the house on fire
The one time you do laundry
You throw your wife's tight jeans in the dryer
Fired from your job a month ago
For a month you've been hiding that with lies
Just so it is you don't get caught...dial
1-800-Not My Fault
So my friend remember this number
If your ever in a jam
Just excuse yourself a moment
Dial as fast as your fingers can
Age it does not matter
Neither being a woman, child, or man
No need to be distraught
Come on now...you know the number
1-800-Not My Fault
Categories:
bar mitzvah, funny, humor,
Form: Free verse
I still wrestle with human afflictions,
when I see others suffering,
groping in the dark of invasion –
where the rich and powerful
become richer, tutors of domination,
over these poor people, my own people.
In a globalized and interdependent world,
the growing technology and culture
speak the same to civilization;
the unknown depths of man’s soul
get neglected in life’s situations.
Our moral compass eclipses
by emerging values of the world;
family ties and faithfulness,
seem to die out now in truth.
I remember the “bar mitzvah”
for Jewish culture and religion
strictness in their formation
for a son or daughter of obligation.
Torah for them – a sacred revelation,
a holy book about God’s laws;
his commandments in various modes,
a guide, indeed, a school for the souls.
Similar to Christian life and religion
a holy bible shared and read across cultures;
but with media invasion in all dimensions
God’s word has now less attraction to some
especially to young people of this generation.
Though I may think the world has changed,
it has become like a free market, a confusion;
with hardly any blueprint of principles –
that carry mankind to be God’s disciples.
Categories:
bar mitzvah, history, hope, life,
Form: Concrete
(09/19/11)
I was always taught that JESUS CHRIST was a Jew.
Then there is a question that I must ask of you.
If he was a Jew- did he have a bar-mitzvah?
Or was he just put on this earth
So Christianity could give birth?
At the age of twelve he sat down
with rabbi’s and teachers
For this was the way that he would reach us.
His cousin JOHN THE BAPTIST
Was baptizing people with water.
Was this the first step of GODS orders?
Questions such as these will always arise
But I know he’s always by my side.
Christianity was born on blind faith
Most get it early - while others get it late.
This blind faith is passed down from
Generation to generation
This has become our salvation.
Unlike scientist who only believe in what
Can be seen and what can be proven, they ask
How can blind faith keep one moving.
Now JESUS is but one man
Yet his face is in every land.
There is not one person in any religion
Known more than CHRIST.
It makes you think - not once but twice.
This is how fast Christianity has spread
That he is known world wide
And on blind faith we do rely.
As for GOD there is only one
And he gave us his only son.
Categories:
bar mitzvah, religion, faith, jesus, cousin,
Form: Rhyme
AMETHYST
HEY MY AMETHYST,I'LL BE YOUR HERO.
YOU ARE MY BAIRN OF ME AND I AM
BAR-MITZVAH OF YOURS.
I WILL STAND IN SIRROCO OF YOUR LIFE.
I GO MANQUE TO SEE SMILE ON YOUR
RED LIPS.
THE BILLET-BOUX WE SHARED IS THE BEST
OF THINGS TO SHARE.
OH!BABY COME BY ME I'LL CREATE
ISLE OF OUR OWN.
TO KISS IS THE LONG DREAM OF ME.
AND YOU GIVE ME COUP DE GRACE
WITH THE IMPECCABLE LOOKS YOU HAVE
YOU ARE ANEMONE TO THE WORLD.
I'LL BE GLAD TO KEEP ANEMONE LIKE YOU
THE BELLERINA WAYS YOU MOVE.
AND YOU TAKE MY HEART TO YOU
ISABEL OF MY LIFE,I'LL KEEP YOU
LIKE ANGEL OF MY HEART.
YOU ARE AMETHYST TO ME.I'LL BE YOUR HERO
TO YOUR LIFE JOURN-O.
Categories:
bar mitzvah, depressionme, me,
Form: I do not know?
BAIRN
THE MORNING I GOT UP AND THINK
ABOUT YOU.
SO YOU ARE BAIRN OF MY LIFE
AND I AM BAR MITZVAH OF YOURS.
OH!MY BAIRN SEE I AM GETTING
THIS BARMY FOR YOU
THAT'S THE REASON YOU CAME IN MY LIFE.
YOU ARE THE BELLERINA OF MY LIFE
I STOLE IT FROM NATURE
'COZ THEY WANTED TO KEEP
ANEMONE LIKE YOU.
SO I DECIDED TO TAKE YOU
TO ME MY BAIRN.
YOU ARE MY BAIRN
I WILL BE WITH YOU FOREVER SO
SO MY BAIRN BE WITH ME
IN LIFE 'S TO FOLLOW.
Categories:
bar mitzvah, dedication
Form: I do not know?