Over the Rooftops of Time: Jewish Stories, Essays, Poems

What is a Jewish Poem?

What is a Jewish Poem? Does it wear a yarmulka and tallis does it live in the diaspora and yearn for homeland Does it wave the lulav to and fro inside a plastic sukkah or recite the seven benedictions under the chupah I wonder what is a Jewish poem Does it only go to synagogue one day a year attaching the tfillin 1 6 5 like a tiny black stranger to its left arm Does it open the stiff skins of the prayerbook to reveal the letters like blackened platelets twisting within Little yeshiva bocher little Jewish poem waving your sidecurls whispering piyyut to me in my sleep Little Jewish poem in your shtreimel hat little grandfather sing to me little Jewish poem come sing to me 1 6 6 OVER THE ROOFTOPS OF TIME ...