One night while attending seder<\/p>\n
At my Bubbie Radlauer\u2019s place,<\/p>\n
I was astounded to hear a rapping<\/p>\n
Coming from the Pesach plates.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I opened up the cupboard<\/p>\n
To see what I could see.<\/p>\n
It was then a bright green frog<\/p>\n
Peered out, to take a look at me.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t be afraid,\u201d the frog spoke<\/p>\n
\u201cI need you to be calm.<\/p>\n
\u201cTake me to your seder, now.\u201d<\/p>\n
He jumped into my palm.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I held the frog with tenderness<\/p>\n
As if he were my prize.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you all should gird yourselves<\/p>\n
You won\u2019t believe your eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
My Bubbie Radlauer gave out a shriek<\/p>\n
The others guests followed suit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis frog can speak. I kid you not.<\/p>\n
He refuses to be mute.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But the frog just peered at me<\/p>\n
And never said a word.<\/p>\n
Bubbie and her seder guests<\/p>\n
Thought I was just absurd.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cGet that meeskite out of here!\u201d<\/p>\n
Bubbie Radlauer snorted.<\/p>\n
As I ran back to the pantry.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I will.\u201d I retorted!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
To say the very least,<\/p>\n
I was embarrassed and confused.<\/p>\n
I spoke again and told him<\/p>\n
That I was not amused.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI only told you to take me there;<\/p>\n
I never said I\u2019d speak.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019m much too shy to say a word.\u201d<\/p>\n
Was all this frog could screak.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThey think I\u2019m crazy.<\/p>\n
They think I\u2019m nuts!<\/p>\n
They think I\u2019m a nudnik<\/p>\n
They think I\u2019m a putz!\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long will it take<\/p>\n
For you to convince each guest<\/p>\n
That you\u2019re the real deal,<\/p>\n
That you\u2019re not just a pest?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He answered me quickly<\/p>\n
With the greatest of taste<\/p>\n
He answered me succinctly<\/p>\n
In a fashion of haste.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a Passover frog,<\/p>\n
Or didn\u2019t you surmise?<\/p>\n
It takes 18 minutes<\/p>\n
In order for me<\/em> to rise.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You\u2019ll have to convince<\/p>\n Them that you are sincere<\/p>\n But give me a chance<\/p>\n Before they can sneer.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So back to the seder<\/p>\n I stealthily crept<\/p>\n Holding onto the frog<\/p>\n I gingerly stepped.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, friends and family,\u201d<\/p>\n I did carefully state.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you just give me time,<\/p>\n You will see something great.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Like matzah, this frog<\/p>\n Of diminutive size<\/p>\n Takes 18 minutes<\/p>\n In order to rise.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, for 18 minutes<\/p>\n Not a word was uttered<\/p>\n We waited patiently<\/p>\n Until the frog muttered:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSometimes it takes faith,\u201d<\/p>\n Said the frog with a wink.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes the world<\/p>\n Is not what you think.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But you waited for me,<\/p>\n An amphibian, to speak.<\/p>\n This was not expected<\/p>\n It was not what you\u2019d seek.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But like waiting for the Messiah<\/p>\n You must believe he\u2019ll arrive.<\/p>\n Just like God freed our people<\/p>\n We persevere and survive.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tonight we celebrate freedom<\/p>\n Without any exception.<\/p>\n Tonight as a people<\/p>\n We recognize redemption.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, before I hop off<\/p>\n Into the dark night<\/p>\n I leave you with this,<\/p>\n A message that\u2019s bright.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hold onto your faith<\/p>\n When you find it hard to believe<\/p>\n This world has much more<\/p>\n Than what you can conceive.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a92023 Alan Smason<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Share](\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\")