Purim

The Wine Song

by Rabbi Reuven Subar
Become a Supporter Library Library

The Wine Song by Rabbi Reuven Subar

"And it was in the days of"
a Turnabout Man
(I don't mean his feet smelled
and that his nose ran)
This barn-boy born
In old Babylon
In the flip of a coin
became Shah of Iran.
His Destiny, Manifest,
seemed like a sign.
He honored himself
in a party of Wine.

His name, Achashverosh,
Globally hated
(To say it your throat
must be well-lubricated).
From above the Great Sea,
From Kush to Hindie, he ruled
Yet his hunger was scarcely half-sated.
"One last coup d'etate,
then dominion is Mine!"
But Vashti was set
on her own feast of Wine.

This King was a Jack
With an Ace in his boot
But his Queen was unsuited,
She would not follow suit.
She drew clubs.
Then spades threw earth on the grave
Where she faded;
She, who like diamonds did shine
And the heart of the King
was merry with Wine.

And at last, one long and wintry night,
A princess appeared,
dressed in plain white.
When the King picked this shoot
From the tree of twelve roots
She was balm for the poisonous snake, Aggagite,
Who hate had eaten a hole in his mind
Then,
the King and Haman
sat down to drink Wine.

"Where the sticker bush was,
the myrtle will thrive"
(It's a verse in Isaiah, fifty-five)
Meaning: "Esther, the Myrtle,
Will leap every hurdle -
And Mordechai too
That unbending Jew.

"Haman & Sons" go bankrupt and hang
(Dangling modifiers
describe well that gang)
Bad finally loses to Good
Sweet things grow
where yucky ones stood.
At last Chaos admits design;
And vineyards in Israel ripen with Wine.

© 1995-2024 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved.

Articles may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue or school newsletters. Hardcopy or electronic. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission in advance at ohr@ohr.edu and credit for the source as Ohr Somayach Institutions www.ohr.edu

« Back to Purim

Ohr Somayach International is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation (letter on file) EIN 13-3503155 and your donation is tax deductable.