Purim selections from
Mind Waves: Journeys 2011, MJBHA (high school) literary magazine
=====================
Orlee Rebibo
I Never Thought I Would Be Selected
I never thought I would be selected,
Never thought I would make it.
I didn't know I was pretty
as a rose.
All the other girls covered in silk, in expensive gems
and me covered in rags and very simple jewelry.
While, I had a sweet kind natural smile
the other girls had fake undesirable grins.
========
Anonymous
I was scared
going to the harem
I didn't want to be a queen
I wanted to be a normal girl
seeing the other women scared me.
Gidon Halbfinger
As Haman Walked Slowly
As Haman walked slowly to the gallows
he called all his relatives near.
He told them all what he felt was truth
about their future careers.
He told his sons and wife about
how they should shut up and stop
talking when he wished to finish up
His pecking order had him at the top.
(Based on the poem, "El Testamento de Aman" or "Haman's Will")
====================
Yael Turitz
Achashversoh
She stands in front of me now
shaking with fear
do not worry, Esther, my queen
do not shed a tear
Although you seem so timid and soft,
I know inside you're strong
It takes courage to come before me,
the walk to my throne is long.
Not many come without being asked.
They find me unapproachable and tall.
But you walk towards me with dignity
even near me, you don't seem small.
Come to me, Esther.
I invite you in
with a wave of my scepter,
You are free from all sin.
===================
Yuval Freund
Haman Seemed Quite Witty at the Time
Haman seemed quite witty at the time
filled with knowledge about my kingdom
No reason to question him at all
of what he believed in for the job.
=================
Eitan Armon
As the Monarch
As the monarch
and not thinking being my hallmark,
I have other people
to perform unworthy tasks.
It was up to the wicked
to select that which fitted
it was to be Mordechai, the Jew
if only Haman knew.
He was my right hand man
my advisor with a plan.
But this time,
I instructed him what to do.
Honor Mordechai, I said
Only how was left to be said
I left that to Haman, "Go on, go on."
===============
Allison Boltax
Zeresh
Always angry
the children have learned
but from their father
violence circles their thoughts
around and around
It's obvious that Haman
only looks out for himself
never his family
we say what he wants to hear
None of us are evil at heart
To be free of him
to never be afraid
I know better than to hope
my dreams are impossible
to obtain
Alas, rid of the beast
but also have gone, my kids
I suppose I should be thankful
for being released painlessly
Now, I can start over.
======================
Dena Fishman
The Hat At The Hanging Tree
Haman, March to the hanging tree,
To the rope of death which you so deserve.
Abuser of power, you used the king
to gain for yourself.
Like a puppet, you pulled his strings
controlled his choices since the day you arrived,
Only to feel the tug of the noose
dragging you to justice.
You selfish, pompous fool, who
felt worthy to bare the sparkling attire of royalty
used the respectable wax stamp to establish evil.
=============
from the preface by Ms. Sarah Antine, Advisor
I'd like to thank Jeff Binder and Mrs. Yael Cortell for their support in this endeavor. All of
Mrs. Cortell's 9th grade classes took one workshop with me on concise and concrete language.
We used poems from 18th century Spain, called "Coplas de Purim," originally written in Ladino
as our source texts. Students wrote in the voices of a "character" from Megillat Esther, using the
form of the Cop/a, a syllabic form consisting of 8 syllables per line, four lines per stanza. The
cop/as we studied used various rhyme patterns and refrains.
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