Last fall I wrote “Twas a Night During Sukkot“, which was a lot of fun to write and read. Passover is now upon us, a time for remembering the redemption God worked by bringing the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt as well as the greater redemption that our Messiah Jesus worked in freeing us from slavery to sin by his death and resurrection.
I had the privilege to celebrate with some good friends last night. In light of my previous poem, I felt it was appropriate to write a new poem for Passover. The last was filled with some inside jokes from my time at JUC, but this one is more generic. It is not meant to be representational of exactly what a Passover meal (called a Seder) is like and isn’t fully in order, but I think you’ll get the idea.
‘Twas the night of Pesach [Passover], and all through the house
Not a bit of yeast was found, not even one ounce!
The meal was ready, prepared with much care
In hopes that Elijah soon would be there.Our guests were all settled, cozy in chairs
As the candles were lit and we recited our prayers.
The first cup was lifted and the berakhah [blessing] was said,
Blessing Adonai [the Lord] for the wine and the bread.When at the front door there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.
Away to the hallway I flew like a flash,
Flipped on a light switch and unlocked the latch.The full moon shown down on the flowers below;
I could feel a spring breeze beginning to blow.
When, what to my wondering eyes should I see,
But that fiery man, Elijah HaNevi [the Prophet]!With camel hair mantel, so dense and so thick
He grabbed some matzah [unleavened bread] and downed it quite quick.
His seat was prepared and joyfully he came
Lifting his cup, he called plagues by name!“First the blood! Then came frogs! And the gnats and the flies!
Dead cattle! Boils and hail! Then locusts and dark skies!
But then came the worst plague, the worst plague by far
The death of the firstborn left quite a scar.”He knew the traditions, I could surely tell.
So I asked if he would lead our Seder as well.
He grabbed some green karpas [parsley] and we did the same
Dipping in salt water, minding Israel’s pain.Then one of the children asked him right on cue:
“What makes this night so different to you?”
He turned to the boy and with a fire in his eye
He patted him on the back before giving his reply.Picking up the pouch from the table’s end
At the three matzot inside he stared like a friend.
Middle matzah in hand, he broke it in two.
He shared one half with us, but hid the rest from view.He lifted the next dish which held the maror [bitter herbs].
Taking a quick whiff, he passed out on the floor!
The rest of us partook and shed a few tears
Reminding us of Israel’s pain despite all the years.Waking up with some blinks, he tried not to whine.
“I just wanted to show how best to recline.”
Sitting back in his chair he grabbed some more bread
Dipping in kharoset [an apple-honey-nut mixture], the bitterness fled.We next turned to the tale in God’s good Torah
About Moses, the slaves, and burning flora.
Moses returned to Egypt confronting Pharaoh
Delivering the message, “Let my people go!”Next came the shank bone on our Seder plate
For the blood of the Lamb redeems us from sins’ weight.
The first time Messiah came, he saved us from sin.
The next time we see him, he will finally win.We finished our meal and sang Dayenu [It Would Have Been Sufficient]
Which everyone loves, like a bowl of hot stew.
The night was now over, and we wished shalom
And shouted, “Next year in Jerusalem!”