Poem: "Tefilat Haderech"
Dec. 6th, 2020 10:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis poem is spillover from the December 1, 2020 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from ng_moonmoth and readera. It also fills the "Greenery" square in my 12-1-20 card for the Winter Fest Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by ng_moonmoth. It belongs to the series Clay of Life.
"Tefilat Haderech"
Menachem and Yossele
are used to the road.
They travel, they
always travel, plying
their trade as blacksmiths.
They have no house, but
they are no homeless.
The open road is their home,
and the wagon they ride.
Their home is every house
they stay in when they greet
their friends in each town.
They say the Tefilat Haderech
whenever they set out, but really,
life is all one long journey to them
with charming stops along the way.
They know that they are cupped
in His hands, and it is good.
As Menachem and Yossele
travel, they keep an eye out
for things that they can
bring for a host's delight.
When they camp beside
a creek before Sukkot,
they cut willow twigs for
the arba minim vendors
to make into lulavim.
On one occasion, they
bought a whole string of lambs
from a shepherd who had
broken his leg and could not
get to the market himself.
Menachem and Yossele are
always welcome when they
reach their desired destination.
* * *
Notes:
Tefilat Haderech is the Traveler’s Prayer in Jewish tradition.
The lulav is a holy item used for Sukkot. It is permitted to purchase one premade from a vendor, but the component plants have to come from somewhere. Historically, travelers bringing some into town would save somebody a trip out and back.
ng_moonmoth and readera. It also fills the "Greenery" square in my 12-1-20 card for the Winter Fest Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by ng_moonmoth. It belongs to the series Clay of Life."Tefilat Haderech"
Menachem and Yossele
are used to the road.
They travel, they
always travel, plying
their trade as blacksmiths.
They have no house, but
they are no homeless.
The open road is their home,
and the wagon they ride.
Their home is every house
they stay in when they greet
their friends in each town.
They say the Tefilat Haderech
whenever they set out, but really,
life is all one long journey to them
with charming stops along the way.
They know that they are cupped
in His hands, and it is good.
As Menachem and Yossele
travel, they keep an eye out
for things that they can
bring for a host's delight.
When they camp beside
a creek before Sukkot,
they cut willow twigs for
the arba minim vendors
to make into lulavim.
On one occasion, they
bought a whole string of lambs
from a shepherd who had
broken his leg and could not
get to the market himself.
Menachem and Yossele are
always welcome when they
reach their desired destination.
* * *
Notes:
Tefilat Haderech is the Traveler’s Prayer in Jewish tradition.
The lulav is a holy item used for Sukkot. It is permitted to purchase one premade from a vendor, but the component plants have to come from somewhere. Historically, travelers bringing some into town would save somebody a trip out and back.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-12-07 08:45 pm (UTC)I really enjoyed this one!
Thank you!
Date: 2020-12-07 09:27 pm (UTC)Re: Thank you!
Date: 2020-12-10 04:02 pm (UTC)Hannukah reading
Date: 2022-12-21 01:27 am (UTC)