Jewish Poetry

Because Rosh Hashanah comes when it does
we often don’t read the text in which Moses
is told he is going to die.

But the text exists and that is what he is told.
Soon, Moses will lie with his forefathers,
and not enter the promised land because

of his one transgression with the rock
which we tell our children and their children
perhaps to scare them into submission

but with less permanent consequences if
they don’t do what they’re told. Didn’t clean your room?
Well, you’re not going to get to go the skate park.

And thus they learn to do good so that
their chosen good will come next.
Moses has learned to do good and

has resolved himself to not crossing the river.
He gets to go out with a song though.
A big number in which he will remind us all

again that good will lead to good and
bad will lead to bad. No one knows the melody
of this song and because of the way

Hebrew works it may have just been spoken word.
The first poetry slam – Moses was the
only contestant and received unanimous tens

from the assembled judges. I don’t mean to
skip ahead, mainly just warn you that no one
tells you anymore when you are going to die.

Moses was feeling in perfect health when
he got the news. Live your life like you are
about to get that news.

So when you climb up your final mountain
and the community behind you moves on
all you leave behind is good.