Paper Bridges: Selected Poems of Kadya Molodowsky

On the Paper Bridge

On the Paper Bridge I'll hire myself out as a serving maid, If anyone wants to hire me. I've tied a silk bow on my bonnet— And this is not fit for a serving maid— If anyone wants to hire me. I wear patent leather shoes, in addition, And this is not fit for a maid in the kitchen, If anyone wants to hire me. Then I am told with an amiable face: Go serve Abraham, Father of our race. So back I walked Across the paper bridge Where the Righteous ascend— And their comings and goings there Are a secret, and they are silent without end. I'll hire myself out as a tailor's hand, If anyone wants to hire me. But my eyes are somewhat strained And this is not fit for a tailor's hand— If anyone wants to hire me. And, in addition I carry a string of old pearls,225 And this is not fit for needle and shears— If anyone wants to hire me. Then they answer me, ever polite and patient: Go, sew up King David's royal garment. So, back I walked Across the paper bridge 469 rvrra lyirr oynx H in BpnBttSft Dyixs x tsxn yoim OXT y*?yrs OXT px •ojrrs H |pKT sn»a ^IK w'Vyji px x "ixs jjttrnxs 717K w i mx -]iyD^ x nxs n^ya |^p ova T^X OXI pK ynxn pa •px pxiy^ T»K pi l^-iyi px ]ya nyi ^ix iw oy m nxn 7X oxn ]ix ,tnynjtt nxn 7X oxn px 470 Where the Righteous sing Sabbath tunes And the little white goat knitted its yarn And garnished my socks with small moons. I'll hire myself out as a star-shiner, If anyone wants to hire me. I'm no good at sweet-talking226 And this is no advantage for a star-shiner, If anyone wants to hire me. And, in addition I take after my grandmother And can't dance the latest style or any other— Oy, if anyone wants to hire me. So they gave me the title of Beautiful Teacher227 And sent me off to weep with Rachel our Mother. So back I walked Across the paper bridge Where the Righteous remain silent. And whatever I've heard and whatever I've seen Are entered in the code of Nutrikin}2 ^ 471 iraVw yDyViyn syx yrx pw ps rn K TT IX px no yi^x yi DID ]IK 7H ^n 7K ,yDy^nyn - irrzhw •fin nyi pyo^s yDoaytr; H eo^a n -T^ fK pt wona p^a :i"P "IKS DDS"IKT DX11 T^IS 472 ...