Jewish Poems - Adam Taylor Poetry

Here is a poem loosely based on the Jewish-American gangster, Meyer Lansky.

Meyer

A traditional
Jewish gangster,
he complained he was only
Public Enemy

Number Six.

He borrowed his craft
from the street of perpetual
shadow and rumble
and fire escapes, criss-crossing
like the stockings
in Rosie Herz’s
kosher brothels.

A traditional
Jewish gangster,
he might have been a banker
but circumstances
didn’t permit.

He spoke easy
but stayed sober
as he soared from the ghetto
on a champagne cork powered
by the Womens’ Christian
Temperance Union.

A traditional
Jewish gangster,
his violin case
in fact contained
his violin.
Or so they thought.

He protected business,
lent to bakers,
advised tailors
and candlestick makers,
partnered butchers,
valued judges
but disdained garbage
and cement.

A traditional
Jewish gangster,
or the Mob’s Financier
as the papers put it

but there was no flowercade
and no one came
except Harry and Max
from the old days
and Meyer Junior,
a banker, who inherited only
a Miami condo
and 17 hats.

A traditional
Jewish gangster,
he was a tough Jew
when there were few
but he never killed on Shabbos.
Unless he had to.

The Jewish version of hell, Gehinnom, is somewhat vague. One body of opinion talks of fire which is sixty times hotter than normal fire. Another view suggests that it’s more mental anguish than physical torture. But one thing is accepted by most sources: whatever happens in hell, it stops for the Jewish Sabbath.

Rest for the Wicked

On Friday evening
in Jewish Hell,
Satan lowers the inferno
to just two candles

and serves dinner
to the accursed sinners.

On Saturday morning
in Jewish Hell,
the wicked pray
for a ticket to heaven,
then after Kiddush
they stroll down the road
and chat with demons
having a smoke
outside the gates
of Catholic Hell,
where operations continue
twenty-four seven,
even on Sundays.

On Saturday afternoon
in Jewish Hell,
it’s the custom for Jews
to take a snooze.
Satan too.

On Saturday evening
in Jewish Hell,
they finish the challah.
Satan makes Havdalah,
then rings the bell.
It’s the start of another
working week
in Jewish Hell.

More about Gehinnom

The Jewish Singles Do

He said hi
She said hello
He said some grape juice?
There’s red or white

She said no thank you
He said do you know Simon Levy?
She said just to say hello to
He said me too
So did you go to the Young Friendship do
at the Spiro?
She said the tomato tasting?
He said yes
She said no
He said it was so so
Simon Levy was there
She said oh
He said Michelle Cantor was there too
I took her on a blind date once
She said so?
He said not great
She brought her mate.
Anyway what do you do?
She said I specialise in 16th century art at Sotheby’s.
You?
He said I’m in computers.
So is Simon Levy
She said really
He said I like art
You know the ones of the dripping clocks?
She said yes
He said maybe we could discuss them over dinner?
She said maybe
He said my name is Jeremy
She said I know
He said oh?
She said we met a year ago
I was the mate on that date
Don’t you remember?
He said uh oh
Anyway what’s your number?
She said I’ve no phone
He said well
What the hell
Let’s elope
She said nope.

Poem of Atonement

we have slandered
we have robbed
we have bribed
we have wrought wickedness

we have lied
we have provoked
we have trespassed
we have transgressed
we have oppressed
we have rebelled
we have abominated
we have wallowed in evil

but otherwise we think
we’ve done quite well