{"id":13571,"date":"2014-04-13T20:30:22","date_gmt":"2014-04-14T02:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=13571"},"modified":"2014-04-14T06:29:36","modified_gmt":"2014-04-14T12:29:36","slug":"passover-poem-the-seder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/passover-poem-the-seder\/","title":{"rendered":"Passover Poem: ‘The Seder’"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Seder<\/span><\/p>\n

By ALAN SMASON<\/p>\n

My mama called out to my brother and me<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease wash your hands now. Turn off the TV.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s time for the seder<\/em>, come downstairs, behave\u201d<\/p>\n

And in three little seconds we had started to lave.<\/p>\n

\n

No sooner had we finished, we heard the door open<\/p>\n

It was Uncle Morey, the bachelor, in from Hoboken<\/p>\n

Next came the neighbors, the Cohens and the Franks<\/p>\n

Then the widow Mrs. Goldberg, who offered us her thanks.<\/p>\n

\n

Bubbie and zadie came in with two shopping bags<\/p>\n

Full of gifts for us kids, some still with store tags.<\/p>\n

We hadn\u2019t had a chance to play with those toys<\/p>\n

When mama disapprovingly said to us \u201cBoys,\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cPut those away now and come to the table.<\/p>\n

Ask Aunt Rosa if she feel\u2019s she is able.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s not been well lately and could use your support.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, the two of us went to the den with a snort.<\/p>\n

\n

There we found Aunt Rosa \u2013 she was fast asleep<\/p>\n

Laid out on the coach and counting sheep.<\/p>\n

\u201cWake up, Tante Rosa! The seder\u2019s almost here.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was startled at first, but then said \u201cDear,\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t asleep. I was just resting my eyes.<\/p>\n

Now help get me up you two little guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two of us helped her move to her chair<\/p>\n

It took quite some effort, but soon she was there.<\/p>\n

\n

Then in from the kitchen daddy came in with a grin<\/p>\n

It wouldn\u2019t be long before the service would begin.<\/p>\n

He poured our four glasses of good kosher wine<\/p>\n

He inspected each setting and then he said \u201cFine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOpen your haggadahs<\/em> and turn to page three<\/p>\n

And hold up your glasses and sing Kiddush<\/em> with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

After drinking our grape juice, we washed hands once more<\/p>\n

Then daddy passed the parsley and we knew what was in store<\/p>\n

\n

We had to dip the greens in salt water twice<\/p>\n

The taste on our tongues was not very nice.<\/p>\n

Next he held up three matzah and broke the middle one<\/p>\n

He wrapped it in a napkin and got up when he was done.<\/p>\n

\n

When he returned to the table, it was not in his hand<\/p>\n

With cunning he had hidden it, just as he\u2019d planned.<\/p>\n

Abba turned to my brother with a wink and a tease<\/p>\n

\u201cChant the Four Questions for us all, if you please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

When my brother was finished, mama complimented him<\/p>\n

All the praise from friends and relatives made my head spin.<\/p>\n

Now I love my little brother, that statement is true,<\/p>\n

But I would\u2019ve liked it more, if they\u2019d complimented me too.<\/p>\n

\n

Somewhere around here we had another glass<\/p>\n

Of wine or some juice for the underage class.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t long after that, the plagues we were learning.<\/p>\n

The waters of the Nile into blood G-d was turning.<\/p>\n

\n

Then next came the frogs, the gnats and the flies<\/p>\n

Dead cattle, large boils, and hail with a surprise.<\/p>\n

It had fire inside it that burned the ground black<\/p>\n

Locusts and darkness set all Egypt aback.<\/p>\n

\n

The last of the plagues was one most forlorn<\/p>\n

It was the slaying of all the Egyptian firstborn.<\/p>\n

That was the reason Pharaoh told Moses to get out<\/p>\n

And the reason the slaves praised G-d with a shout.<\/p>\n

\n

Dad had us drop grape juice, the others dropped wine<\/p>\n

To commemorate the plagues, which made us feel fine.<\/p>\n

We read in the haggadahs about unleavened bread<\/p>\n

What bitter herbs meant and our speed when we fled.<\/p>\n

\n

Then daddy pointed to a lamb bone and held it up high<\/p>\n

He spoke of a sacrifice and the reason he said why<\/p>\n

The children of Israel were the ones G-d had spared.<\/p>\n

I looked at Uncle Morey and I wondered if he cared.<\/p>\n

\n

He was starting to nod off and I nudged my little brother<\/p>\n

Who giggled so loud, he got looks from our mother.<\/p>\n

Then daddy got up and washed his hands one more time<\/p>\n

But this time he said a blessing with no reason or rhyme.<\/p>\n

\n

He said another blessing this time for matzah bread<\/p>\n

And when he had finished \u201cAmen!\u201d we all said.<\/p>\n

Then finally, my favorite \u2013 charosets \u2013 was combined<\/p>\n

With bitter herbs on matzah; it was less than refined.<\/p>\n

\n

Then all of a sudden, the haggadahs were replaced<\/p>\n

With plates of gefilte fish having exquisite taste.<\/p>\n

Then to throw Mrs. Frank and Mrs. Cohen for a loop<\/p>\n

My mother brought out bowls of her matzah ball soup.<\/p>\n

\n

The soup was so savory and the matzah balls were so airy<\/p>\n

The faces at the table were so happy it was scary.<\/p>\n

But then came the brisket and the turkey and potatoes<\/p>\n

Although Tante Rosa only wanted a salad with tomatoes.<\/p>\n

\n

It was a meal fit for a king or a queen or a prince<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t recall as festive a feast we\u2019ve had since.<\/p>\n

Then after dessert, daddy asked us to find<\/p>\n

The afikoman<\/em> he\u2019d hidden somewhere behind<\/p>\n

\n

The painting of Big Zadie that hung in the hall<\/p>\n

I found it quite easily and showed it to all.<\/p>\n

Rewarded with some gelt, I felt very proud.<\/p>\n

Everyone at the table sang out their prayers loud.<\/p>\n

\n

Daddy poured out glasses three and then came four<\/p>\n

I heard Mrs. Cohen scold her husband \u201cNothing, more!\u201d<\/p>\n

It was very late now and I felt kinda drowsy<\/p>\n

Mr. Cohen looked like he was feeling quite lousy.<\/p>\n

\n

My little brother and I joined in the energetic singing<\/p>\n

Of Dayenu<\/em> and Chad Gadya<\/em>. Our ears were left ringing.<\/p>\n

We ended the evening with a pledge very clear<\/p>\n

In Jerusalem we would gather for the seder next year.<\/p>\n

\n

Except for Mr. Cohen everyone left feeling well fed<\/p>\n

So, the two of us went upstairs and climbed into bed.<\/p>\n

We had done so many things. We had had so much fun<\/p>\n

That we hated to see the seder end its short run.<\/p>\n

\n

Then a thought happened to me as I started to doze<\/p>\n

My mind was still racing as my eyes went to close.<\/p>\n

We would do it all again at the seder, second night!<\/p>\n

Then, alas, Mama and daddy turned out the room light.<\/p>\n

\u00a92010 Alan Smason<\/span><\/p>\n

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