In the 7th Grade Mr. Hirata introduced me to the world of Haiku… the distinctive Japanese poetry form written in three lines consisting of five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables. It is the only form of poetry I took to. The form requires a concise use of words to project an image or thought. I loved its brevity. The fact that I enjoy something where brevity is a key feature may come as a surprise to you. But in fact this is consistent with my entire academic experience… as far as I was concerned once I left Miss Caulkins’ 4th Grade, everything connected with the learning process, the briefer the better.
This was coincidentally the year I also had to begin Hebrew School… an endeavor I found as painful as anything connected with Science and Math. Check that… it was worse. There are no dinosaurs in the Torah.
Well, here we are… just before Labor Day and the start of school. It’s a seasonal thing really… Jews begin circulating articles, stories, jokes and the like just before the High Holy Days that loom around the corner. It’s our way to prepare for our Days of Awe. You see… we need all 364 Days to prepare for a Fast Day, as it says in the Bible “ready yourself as if you were going to Mars,” and also, “they had no victuals and could not hold on to the Mah Jong tiles.”
What follows is a selection of poems that I first came across two years ago. With apologies to Mr. Hirata, here are some Haiku for your consideration.
JEWISH HAIKU
After the warm rain
the sweet smell of camellias.
Did you wipe your feet?
Today I am a man.
Tomorrow I will return
to the seventh grade.
The sparkling blue sea
reminds me to wait an hour
after my sandwich.
Tea ceremony–
fragrant steam perfumes the air.
Try the cheese Danish.
Yom Kippur– Forgive
me, Lord, for the Mercedes
and all that lobster.
Like a bonsai tree,
your terrible posture at
my dinner table.
Jews on safari —
map, compass, elephant gun,
hard sucking candies.
The sparrow brings home
too many worms for her young.
“Force yourself,” she chirps.
Our youngest daughter,
our most precious jewel.
Hence the name, Tiffany.
Seven-foot Jews in
the NBA slam-dunking!
My alarm clock rings.
Quietly murmured
at Saturday services,
Yanks 5, Red Sox 3.
A lovely nose ring —
excuse me while I put my
head in the oven.
On Passover we
Opened door for Elijah
Now our cat is gone.
Her lips near my ear,
Aunt Sadie Whispers the name
Of her Friend’s disease.
The same Kimono
The top Geishas are wearing:
I got it at Loehman’s
Sorry I’m not home
To take your call. At the tone
Please state your bad news.