We All Need a Jethro – A poem for Parsha Yitro

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Yitro — Jethro

Appoint yourself a wise person
to advise you on how to do the
things you do, like Moses did

with Jethro, his father-in-law
who told him to not spread himself
so thin and delegate.

I have one of those too. He told me to
get in the system (it was real estate
advice) and so I did and now

in the system, I’m better than I
would have been if I wasn’t.
He told me to not put the trash can

up against the AC compressor unit.
Advice I heeded and now the
insurance company has nothing to

complain about (it all goes back to
real estate). Appoint yourself a cheerleader
who will read your poems and tell you

how unique your voice is, and you
realize he bought a copy of his
son-in-law’s (that’s you, but really

it’s all a metaphor for me) book
when you easily could have
just mailed him one. Like Moses

did with his father-in-law, Jethro
who listened to the stories of
demands and plagues and

water coming out of rocks
and seas parting, so everyone,
literally, everyone could be free.

Jethro’s eyes listened with
the wideness of ascent offerings.
Jethro rejoiced. Appoint yourself

someone like that, like Jethro who
will tell you how it is, how it should be,
and will always be on your side.

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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