There is a poignant juxtaposition of the almost ritual aspects of the making
of a special sandwich in celebration of some Jewish feast or remembrance and
the never-ending story unfolding on our screens. Gary pointed out in an
earlier poem the history of the Land of Two Rivers. It seems a place to
which and from which all our miserable history of war and the needs for war
emanate.
 I like this poem, Ryfkah. Strange how our Christian Bible , borrowing as it
does from your own history, details the fighting that has gone on there
generation on generation and yet offers love as a solution....'Laughing we
cry as hot meets sweet.'   Arthur.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ryfkah *" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2003 6:00 PM
Subject: a new poem: The Haggadah (The Story)


> The Haggadah (The Story)
>
> Today bright as divinity
> eastern clouds portend another fate
> We purchase horseradish
> to remind us that tears run bitter
>
> We build a Hillel sandwich
> a bit of choroset
> the apples nuts wine
> like mortar across the matza
> a horseradish dab added
> Laughing we cry
> as hot meets sweet
>
> The looting shooting flash
> across TV screen
> hours of a statue carnage
> videologued for posterity
> an American Marine buried
> with full military honors
> his casket cloaked by
> a Mexican flag
>
> The story retold
> God with an outstretched
> arm makes us free
>
> Ryfkah 4/12/03