April 1, 2021: "Poem" by Izzi Charik (In "A Treasury of Yiddish Poetry, page 191)

POEM

Who cares if eternity won't know me,
if no one ever watches my footsteps --
but now, right now, when hearts are burning,
I come with fists in my song. 

Of course, I'd like to sing myself away,
to cry out all my hurting with the wind --
but, though I would not find that hard, I cannot,
when life bears down too much on everyone.

The stars are not -- till now -- my enemies,
and I can keep my peace with all the winds,
but when I am ablaze I must not listen
to the air that, rustling, lingers over me.

Who cares if eternity won't know me,
if no one ever watches my footsteps --
but now, right now, when hearts are burning,
I must come with my song!

April 1, 2021: Reaching Out and Self-Reliance

                   Reaching Out and Self-Reliance

 

One step towards becoming worldly wise:

You don’t have to hunt for yourself,

But you can assume some order, and organize

In a file; with a hook; on a shelf.

 

When there’s no one around to lend you a hand,

You can imagine how you would construe it,

Just as long as you understand

That there isn’t just one way to do it!

 

For some, it’s too easy to fall into despair

At even the thought that they might have to think!

Too much frustration to be able to care

How ideas – or fittings – might link!

 

So a-mazing!

So what?

So engaging!

In a rut!

Wide-ranging

Pain in the butt!

No use complaining!

Just don’t bust a nut!