Careful Not to Get Smote When Using Essential Oils – A poem for parsha Ki Tisa (Aliyah 1)

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The rich shall give no more, and the poor

shall give no less than half a shekel

One man’s half shekel
is another man’s dinner

One man’s dinner
is another man’s garbage

One man’s garbage
is another man’s treasure

One man’s treasure
is another man’s desire

One man’s desire is
another man’s half shekel


they shall wash with water

so that they will not die;

I finally know what to
tell my son to convince him

washing his hands is
a good idea.

You don’t want to die
the second you

walk into the tent of
meeting, do you?

It says to wash your
feet too, so let’s just say

taking a bath every day
is a good idea.


Any person who compounds [any oil] like it or puts

any of it on an alien shall be cut off from his people.

This has tremendous implications
for the essential oils industry.

I’m glancing at the phrase like it
and brain-smelling the oils

in the living room, in the box
where they’re kept.

I’m pretty sure they’re like it.
Have I already been separated

from my people? And what’s with
the word alien? That can’t be right.


Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day

is a Sabbath of complete rest

I’m getting the holy oils ready
before the sun sets.

I’m telling the aliens I won’t
see them ’til Sunday.

I’m pre-tuning the guitar and
turning the switches to

the right positions.
I’m one half of a covenant.

I’m two candles on a
Friday night.

I’m the space between
the heaven and Earth

the darkness and light
the fins and wings.

I’m a napping firmament.
I’m yes, I will do nothing

on the seventh day, like
You did, in the beginning.

These poems are offered free for your enjoyment. If you use them as part of an event, meeting, educational or liturgical setting, please consider tipping the author.

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