Best Passover Poems
(From the musical "On Eagles' Wings." This is the lullaby for Passover night.)
Mother 1:
Be still, my child, go to sleep
The night is dark, but dreams are sweet
My child, take rest from fear and dread
And relish all your dreams instead
Though life is harsh, your dreams can be
As sweet as the world used to be
Be not afraid of any harm
I have you safely in my arms
Mother 2:
Be still, my child, rest your head
You have no need to fear or dread
The One Who has made known His power
Is watching over you this hour
He’s stretching out His mighty arm
To spare your life from Egypt’s harm
He watches over you this night
That you may see the morning light
His promise surely will come true
Tonight He’s passing over you
Refresh, Revive, Rejuvenate
at the Passover Seders
Festival of Freedom
followed by the peace of the Sabbath
Three days to pause, to tell the story
to delve into its myriad meanings
this year, all within the immediate family unit
with the people who mean the most
On a humble donkey he once rode
Thunderous crowds by the road
Liberation they craved or
A salvation he gave forth
He rides into Jerusalem once more
With no glare from two thousand years ago
Fear has pulled back praisers out of his path
There was no red carpet but marks of an invisible wrath
On this Sunday, palms of praise are not seen
The stones could not sing along to any hymn
Only sounds of the clopping are heard
The King rode on to the fate ahead
A lone conqueror of sin and damnation
He rides to war without a shield or ammunition
With praise subdued by fear, he still rides to his crucifixion
To die and rise again to save the world from a contagion
Tonight we’ll sit around the table
While we’re reminiscing
Both about the Israelites
And those whom we are missing.
Every Seder takes me back
To those when I was young.
I can hear my Zadie’s voice,
The Hebrew that was sung.
I can taste my Nana’s sponge cake
And gefilte fish,
So much love invested into
Every single dish.
Horse radish my grandpa made
Was mirrored by his face –
Beet-red cheeks and crinkled eyes,
Such merriment in place.
The hard-boiled eggs were split in two;
My cousin got the white.
I consumed the yolk, of course,
In one comedic bite.
Second night my father’s folks
Played host and that was fun.
My grandpa hid the matzoh
To be found when we were done.
We all know where it was, though;
On a pillow he reclined,
The Afikomen tucked beneath
His trouser-clad behind.
He’d get up slightly, just to reach
A serving plate or wine;
Then all the cousins made a grab
To say, “This matzoh’s mine!”
My parents are no longer here,
My grandparents as well;
But if I close eyes,
On Seders past I like to dwell.
Tonight we’ll gather for the meal
But if I tell the truth,
It will be lovely, but no match
For Seders of my youth.
(A Seder is the special Passover meal; the Afikomen is a piece of matzoh (cracker) that's hidden to be found by one of the children for a reward; gefilte fish is a specially made fish concoction that's definitely an acquired taste; Zadie is a grandfather - he was my great-grandfather; Nana is a grandmother.)
The season of the
seder
is
almost
upon
us
We will be filled with joy
when we imbibe
the four cups of wine
The mighty Red Sea
parted for Moses and the Israelites
as they move forward
with their plans
The late, lamented
Richie Havens
sang of Sinai in his
"Minstrel from Gault"
This year we once more
are thankful
for the Passover meal
and yes , we will take joy in
our delivery from forces which
are intended to destroy us
7/5 trochee
Patience needed, watch the scene.
nature’s curtains pull.
Terra’s headed straight between
Sol and Luna full.
Luna fades on scheduled track,
sudden redness brims.
Luna looks at Terra's black,
glowing halo rim.
written 4 April 2015
recounting the lunar eclipse which occurred
during Jewish Passover, this Saturday morning.
http://io9.com/how-to-watch-saturdays-total-solar-eclipse-the-shortes-1695284891
Wine, bread, bitter herbs
Blood, body, sin, suffering
This is Passover
in old and new Testaments
Love means Sacrifice
(c)Anil Deo, 11 April 2017
Shalom shalom, Happy Passover to all Jews and Christians. During Passover Jesus instituted the Holy Communion summed up in "unleavened bread & wine."
PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM: "Sha'alu Shalom Yerushalayim." Ps 122:6
The years have
come and gone
and we are gathered here
today
to celebrate the
end of our enslavement
We can only hope that all slaves
will soon be free
And that they will become
joyous free people
At the Seder table
Where Messiahs have come and gone
And prophets true and false
have spoken their words
We hope for the best
for the Jewish people
and for the rest of the world's people
Light and love
to all of you out there in the darkness
Peace - sisters and brothers
The Passover Lamb
The dawning of the Passover Day in Jerusalem
had only just begun
but a conspiracy and deceitful lies
filled the city that day about the Father’s only son.
It was true there was more than just chatter
as mockery it to filled the air that day
and while Roman leaders and Pharisees were strategizing
Jesus alone slipped away to pray.
The tension in Jerusalem
now had mounted to a high fevered pitch
could they trap Him somewhere this night
could they pull it off without riot or a hitch?
For they knew many of His followers would be so busy
because they had so many things to do
preparing Passover meals and families in prayer
they were counting on this plan of theirs to attract only a few.
And while the disciples were all so excited
after all this was Passover Day
they went to prepare the supper for Jesus, “The Lamb”
while their leaders prepared their trap for Him to slay.
But what those leaders still didn’t understand
it wasn’t by their hand that He was to be caught
for He came to offer Himself, His all for us
knowing our redemption by His blood had to be bought.
All over the city of Jerusalem
the aroma of roast lamb, oh how it filled the air
but behind closed doors the Lamb of God
being whipped and mocked till His own blood covered His hair.
Then towards the last of His torture
a cross was placed upon His furrowed bleeding back
and because each step brought pain and agony
He fell under the weight of it for strength He did lack.
On the cross this precious Lamb
cried, Father forgive them for they know not what they do
and our redemption now finished and paid in His blood
for from Hell’s corridors He purchased back me and you.
Our world has not been the same
since outside of old Jerusalem that He died on Calvary’s Hill
and when this precious Passover Lamb from Heaven
rose from the dead, it is certain it never will.
Praise the Lamb for Sinner’s He was slain.
Written by: Marilyn S. Jennings
9/6/1994 copyright
To the Hill of the Skull,
Jesus was led,
our Passover Lamb,
whose blood must be shed.
To atone for our sin,
the Sinless One came,
to take upon Himself,
our punishment and shame.
Nailed to a cross,
He fulfilled God's plan,
to procure salvation,
for every child, woman, man.
Darkness descended,
as God turned His face,
away from His Son,
who was taking our place.
And then He died.
His disciples were mourning,
all hell was rejoicing,
but Sunday was coming.
4/14/17
The plates are ready
and the meal is about to be served
The Heady wine of Dorwinion
will be drunk here
Feeling festive
the dwarves begin to chant
in Hebraic tones
Passover at Bilbo's house
Perhaps the best questions
are yet to be asked
Gandalf's beard has grown long
and his bushy eye brow
stand above
his piercing eyes
A delicous meal
and more wine
as the vening wears on
A glorious end
to a glorious day
as the visitors
head off to Dreamland
and beyond......
Soon enough we will gather
for the festive meal
We will tell the tale
of the liberation of the Hebrew slaves
We will drink wine,
sing and enjoy
This festival comes
once a year
In my imagination
I can taste the gefilte fish and horseradish
I can taste the hard boiled egg, charoses and parsley
All in my imagination
Soon enough Passover will
arrive
Looking forward to feasting
and chanting
The years bring sorrow
My father will not be at
the seder this year
His memory lingers on
He may be looking down
from somewhere
Watching as we re - enact
the ancient ritual
and smiling
I've called you here to break with me this bread,
to drink sweet wine and eat of peppered cod
None here a servant, each a friend, instead
Find on this board the boundless love of God
Come! Sit beside me now and eat thy fill,
while I wash from thy feet the earth you've trod
Though most here are intended of goodwill,
one man who would betray me joins us, too
So knowing, though, he's precious to me, still
Fate never altered course because one 'knew'
As such, I've called you here to say goodbye
Please love each other as I have loved you
And who lives by that love for which I die,
shall meet me in God's kingdom in the sky...
Alright, you guys, it's 'Passover-Seder-time!'
First we party -- Drink a whole glass of wine.
Wait, wait, wait. Back-up. We gotta tell the story:
Ask all those questions; Describe God in all His glory.
Hey, hey, story's over. It's time for the meal.
NOW we can celebrate: Eat and drink whatever we feel!
Oh, no. I forgot. We didn't say Hallel. *
Gotta sober up quick. Can't be a m'challel. **
What's this now? More wine? A third and fourth cup?.
My head is swimming. This gig is up.
My eyes slowly close
My head hits the table;
Sure hope this whole night
Wasn't just one great big fable!
* "Hallel" is Hebrew for 'Praise," a Song of Praise, sung after the Passover meal.
** A m'challel' is Hebrew for 'desecrate' - to profane that which is sacred.
The feast is now over
The four glasses of wine are gone
Memories live on
From the seders of the past
Springtime brings us such great joy!