busyLike Oil to a Lamp
A guest comes
wandering, to the house
hungry, to the table.
A host comes
happily, to the door
generously, to the diners.
The soup is poured
cold red borscht and
hot chicken-feet broth.
The sides are served
kreplach filled with potato
and kugel made with carrots.
The fish is brought
smooth salty lox and
sweetened gefilte fish.
The meat is sliced
corned beef brisket
and pickled tongue.
The sweet bread is put out
babka full of cinnamon and
bialys full of poppy seeds.
Guest and host are
grateful for the food
thankful for the company.
These truths are known
food to a man is like oil to a lamp.
companionship to a soul is like water to a garden.
* * *
Notes:
"Food to a man is like oil to a lamp."
-- Yehuda Ben Harosh
Jewish poetry includes a variety of forms. This one uses parallels.
Jewish food features many everyday and holiday delights of kosher cooking. Enjoy recipes for borscht, chicken-feet soup, kreplach, carrot kugel, lox, gefilte fish, corned beef brisket, pickled tongue, cinnamon babka, and bialys.
December 20 2017, 01:58:01 UTC 3 years ago