Reach Up a Glad Heart.

Shabbos Day - Kiryat Yovel

The poem was published on Chabad.org:

http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/763890/jewish/Shabbat-Day.htm

The Long-Expected Gift

When you were young
And the ocean was young
You called out my name
In Atlantic City -
And I came running to you
Over the sand -
"Coming , Mommy, coming..."
The little girl you always wanted
With the name you always dreamed of.

High school in West Phila. -
Friends, piano lessons -
Those fun-filled years -
Forever, Mommy, you are smiling
That "million dollar smile"
From your yearbook - with your dream
Tucked away in your heart.

You were happy at work
In the family business -
Good-natured secretaries,
Trips to the post-office-
Talk, talk of who will marry who -
Until the moment you met
The one who famously said:
"See that girl, Har? - I'm gonna
Marry her one day."

Then expectation, joy -
And a question: What if it's a boy?
No matter - as long as he's healthy -

Mazel tov, mazel tov!
It's a girl! Eight pounds
Twelve and a half ounces -
She has no hair, a tiny nose,
Adorable... she looks like...
And you held in your arms
Your long-held dream -
Your Diane.

My father's English birthday

No sky is big enough
No sky wide enough
No sky high enough
None is blue enough -

To contain the faithfulness
Of my beloved Tatie -

I tip my whole being to you,
My Tatie, on this day -
Your English birthday -

February 1, 2010