Imagine a Bashevkin
The poet cannot write
Because the subject matter
Indeed, is dark as night
The utter sense of repulsion
Of news that we may hear
Reminds us why Hashem
Put plugs for our ear
Tales from men in power
That make our stomachs churn
Disgusting words and acts they are
Some people never learn
They think they are enlightened
And way above the scope
And yet no words I find for them
I’m lost and will not grope
How dare the world demand from us
Their standards of morality
How dare they mock our chastity
With the snide leer of banality
How dare they scorn the standard
We chose to self-impose
The sanctity and holiness
Of this great life we chose
The safeguards of our Torah
Which save our souls from sin
The symbols of a nation
That rises ‘bove the din
The noise and clamor
Of the street
That cover all the news
Will never touch the soul of us
Shulchan Aruch Jews
And when I say the brocha
Shelo asani goy
And think of those
Who are like them
I sigh a muffled, “Oy”
And proud I am in every way
A Shulchan Aruch Jew
Not only that it’s Hashem’s will
It is good business too!
