Rosh Hashannah
The day off for which I don't get paid
The ancient festival
Layered now with meaning
Like the coffee cup at my wrist
Or more like the ground beneath this house
Or more like the ground beneath a house
In Jerusalem
Where walked so many voices
Yet heard today
The harvest festival
Of an agricultural people
The day when God opens the book of life
Begins the yearly inventory
Of souls
Who shall live and who shall die
Who shall laugh and who shall cry
Etcetera
Useful
To remind of the moving universe
Flowing and constantly changing
To take stock
Of thoughts and desires
Are they worthy
Are they worthwhile
Will they truly bring joy
I must finish this poem
So that I can iron my pants
Later my wife and daughter
All prettied up
And I will go
Wrapped in a shawl of prayer
Sit among my people
Before the universe
Thankful to have made the circuit
One more lap
On this racetrack of life
My daughter will stand before the multitude
Read words in an ancient language
In her beautiful voice
We will reflect
We will eat
We will be together
Rosh Hashannah
A wonderful day
