I'm Finally Here!

Last month I missed the two days I should have posted and Sandra, I am so sorry. My month was so busy with my husband's health appointments and my own schedule that I forgot I was supposed to post. So this time I am here and plan to be here from now on.

For anyone who doesn't know it, today is the first full day of Passover. Last night most people had seders and celebrated the Jew's exodus from Egypt. It's all written down in something we call a haggadah, which is a pamphlet and everyone gets a copy.Anyway, for anyone who doesn't know about how a seder works, there is a big plate in the middle of the table filled with unusual things. There is a burnt egg, a mixture of apples, walnuts and wine called haroset, sprigs of parsley, a small bowl of salted water and a burnt lamb shank. These are all symbols of things that are important to Jewish tradition for Passover. The burnt egg symbolizes fertility and the fact that the Jews were able to find the land of Canaan and live in peace. The haroset symbolizes the mortar used for the first temple. The sprig of parsley is for the bitter herb, to show the suffering the Jews had when they wandered in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights. The burnt lamb shank symbolizes the lamb that was slaughtered so the Jews could put its blood on their doorposts when God smote the Egyptian's first born. God said this would protect them. The whole story is told in the haggadah, which details what everyone at the seder should say and do.

The seder starts out with the head of the household, usually a man, washing his hands and saying a prayer. Then he shows everyone the seder plate and the stack of matzohs sitting next to it. He breaks off part of the first piece of the matzoh for the Affikomen, the dessert the lucky finder of the piece after the dinner wins. Then the youngest person there asks the 4 questions and the seder continues. We never go through the whole seder and go through it pretty fast to get to the Meal!! Let me tell you. Never eat anything the day before a seder. You start with a hard boiled egg dipped into salt water. Then you have chicken soup and matzoh balls. This is followed by gefilte fish. Sometimes there is chopped liver too. After all of this the main course is brought in and it's usually brisket or turkey with all the extras. You can't have anything with flour, so it might be potato pancakes, or a potato dish, vegetables and wine. Oh, I forgot the wine part. Everyone gets to have a little wine on Passover, because it's part of the seder. When you sit down you have wine in front of you and there is always an extra empty place at the table for Elijah. During the dinner you are supposed to open the door to invite him into your house. It is tradition on Passover to invite guests over to share your dinner with them and to share the story of Passover. The full cup for Elijah stays on the table the whole time. During the seder service you have to drink from your cup several times.

After a seder there is a kind of dessert. Usually it's fruit and Passover cake or macaroons. The aftermath is so awful, because you feel like something is weighing you down! Then you have a whole week of matzoh to look forward to.

Anyway, this has nothing to do with writing, but it might be interesting for anyone who didn't know about it.:)

This is also April and in April I do Poem a Day, which means I write a poem a day for Poetic Asides with Robert Brewer and post it on the comments there. We all use the same prompt, but the poetry is so spectacular you would never know it. I am going to post a few of the poems I wrote this month here and will continue to post the poems I wrote on my own blog, Barbara's Meanderings. Let me know what you think in the comments here:

April 1, 2012 - Urgent communication

Bills
They lay in their glassine envelopes

taunting me with their placid outsides

When I gather them from the tiny metal
box where they are placed I have hope
that some of those envelopes will be
a chance for happiness and not the

numbing sameness of monotonous

figures depleting my small store of

cash for the glory of corporations
copyright 2012 by Barbara Ehrentreu

April 2, 2012 - Uninvited guests

Uninvited Guests
After adding the juice of plump, rosy San Marzano tomatoes
to the simmering brown mixture filled with cuts of onion and

sweet garlic bits – me in those gray loose pants I wear for the

joy of being at home, stirring tomato sauce, tasting watching the

plops of red blossom around the pan on the snow white stove top

Sauce to the point of perfection, tasted and seasoned and ready

The glass bowl set near to catch the delicate spaghetti coated

with the luscious sauce waiting like a performer to begin the

show, we heard a knock, knock on the door. My daughter,

bowl in hand tentatively opened the locks and peeked outside

just a crack to see our uninvited visitors. He with the ready
smile and open face asked the question while his companion

popped up smiling too. My can opener, they needed my manual
can opener and I passed it to them a bond between two new
neighbors.
copyright 2012 by Barbara Ehrentreu




April 3, 2012 - Two for Tuesday, write an apologetic or non-apolgetic poem

Wall of sorrys
After so many years the sorrys flow like a wall of water

too many and too few to fill the gaps of our days

We were inevitable, the force between us unbroken
and we moved ahead like logs in the river no boundaries

for our boundless love

knowing always the shelter of your strong arms

the pleasure of our shared moments
and it’s not my fault you turned away
my company no longer enough for your

selfish pursuits and I nurtured the seed of our
love watering it with my tears hoping it would

grow and flourish and become supple as it once was

yet your loveless glances continue and we bump
around in this alien world like boarders
only occasionally do I see the peek of light

in your eyes and I am sorry to see it for it
reminds me of the laser beams I used to know.
copyright 2012 by Barbara Ehrentreu



April 4, 2012 - a 100% poem

Striving for 100%

We all do it
worship the number
pray for it
cry for it
stay up late forcing
words into our brains
cross our fingers
when the papers
reveal the truth
and we infuse
this desire into
our children with
their first attempts
rewarding with gold
stars those who
achieve the magic
number
while the stragglers
develop cement feet
and though they try
can never quite meet
the heights
they drop away to
find the easier route
gaining hundreds
for their limited attempts
forced to watch
the stars who soar
on the backs of their
100%s separated from
their talented friends
soon to be the haves
of the school.

copyright 2012 by Barbara Ehrentreu


HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU! HAPPY EASTER AND HAPPY PASSOVER!
Until the next time, try to write a little poetry this month. I find I am addicted to it when I start and it helps to bring out feelings and thoughts only poetry can! I have the ones for April 5 and up on my blog.

If you are interested, I am currently a guest on Jane Richardson's blog, Home Is Where the Heart Is for her One Link Lowdown. You won't' believe what you don't know about me.:)