I ask you
As you read this poem
Are you in camp?
Or are you home?
Are you on some
distant island?
In a valley
Or a highland?
Truth be told
I do not care
You can be
Just anywhere
It makes no difference
Where you go
Fancy resort
Bungalow
Everybody’s
Got to know
You just cannot say
“It ain’t so”
An announcement
Is soon coming
Hearts are pounding
Souls are drumming
You know to what
I do refer
The fact that in shul
They’ll declare
Another week
AND ELUL’S HERE!
Oh, yes! I know
It’s August Three
What does Bashevkin
Want from me?
Camps are running
Kids are playing
Why say something
So dismaying?
Oh! No! My friend
You can relax
My words are not
Mussar attacks
All I say
Just be aware
Despite the fun
Yes! Elul’s here
So what you do
And what you wear
And how you act
And when and where
Perhaps a bit you
Ought to care
For if in settings
So sublime
You decide to spend the time
To raise the level
Of vacation
And fill it with great inspiration
The shofar that
Shall sound in camp
Your level surely
Up the ramp
For kedusha can indeed
Your vacation
Supersede
And a summer
Even fun
Can elevate
Just anyone
For if intentions
Are real pure
Though Elul’s knocking
At your door
I think we all
Can still be sure
That we can flourish
Not just endure
For if you say it
Strong and loud
Shout it out
Among the crowd
Preparing in an atmosphere
Where most everyone
Just could not care
And yet you valiantly declare
TESHUVAH NOW
For Elul’s here!
Then even though the first two weeks
May be away
In mountains peaks
You will succeed until the fast
From that first clear
Shofar blast
