Have turned into the shrieks and pouts
The sounds of chometz fear!
“We have too many
Pretzel bags
Please dump them at your school!
It’s after Purim
Leave them there
You know we have a rule!”
“Who left these crumbs
And cookie dough?”
“This room was cleaned!”
“I didn’t know!”
What happened to the vacuum?
It never seems to work!
The hose is stuffed with pizza crusts!
And I’m going berserk!
Chaim’s coming
From the Mir!
And Ettil’s in from sem!
Zvi’s got a ride from Lakewood
I think at 4 a.m.!
And Bashy’s coming
From out west
I’d get them if I can!
But they have 20 suitcases
And we don’t have a van!
“You just brought home a pizza?!
Are you out of your mind?
You think I’m here to clean the mess?
Of stuff you leave behind?
“You’re treifing up my dishes!
Your bedroom is a mess!
Take that junk
And eat outside!
You’re causing me distress!
I ask the kids to help clean up
They says they’re “going learning”
Suddenly, they’re tzaddikelach
With such a drive and yearning!
But mornings, I do wonder
As they lie there in their beds
What does it take
For them to wake?
Water on their heads?
Do they have any maror left?
Those kids make me insane
It’s not Shabbos Hagadol and
They ate all the Romaine!
“Yankel, are you going out?
Please get me a few things”
And somehow all
But what she asked
Is what her Yankel brings!
“You mean she is not coming?
She says she has the flu?
Her brother in Honduras died?
Whatever will I do?
“Would you clean out your knapsacks?
“You think I am your maid?
“You know what this would cost you
“If ever I was paid?”
Moish does not know jewelry
He doesn’t mind the price
“My wife has worked so hard this year
Please, just give me something nice!”
“Did you pick up the cleaners stuff
I sent two months ago?
Your kittel‘s turning colors
Next to a tuxedo!
“My shaitel is a total wreck!
I wore it in the rain!”
“Ma! Do I need to get new shoes?
‘Cause getting them’s a pain!”
“Ma! I need new shoes for Yom Tov!
Not got ones for a while!”
“What’s wrong with those you just got”
“Oh! They’ve just gone out of style!”
And as the days draw closer
And sweet smells fill the air
Suddenly it’s calmer
‘Cause Pesach is soon here
Maybe it’s the tablecloth
Maybe matzoh tashes
Maybe it’s the kinderlach
Waiting for the kashas
Maybe it’s the spirit
Of really getting free
That sends some calm in every house
With true tranquility
And all the havoc
And the noise
A thing it does not mean
When Seder night
We do alight
On thrones like king and queen
And soon our little princes
And princesses as well
Listen quiet, with intent
As history we tell
And as the Seder ends, they sleep
And silently they’re glowing
Until on Chol Hamoed, they scream…
“TOTTY! WHERE WE GOING?!”
