Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE TONGUE, by JOHN DAVID NUSSBAUM First Line: Said rabbi simon to his son Last Line: "both life and death are in the tongue!" Subject(s): Clergy; Jews; Simon (143-135 B.c.); Priests; Rabbis; Ministers; Bishops; Judaism | ||||||||
SAID Rabbi Simon to his son; "To market-place do quickly run Naphtali, my lusty lad, And buy the 'best' that can be had Of things to eat. I say the 'best,' Put thou thy intellect to test!" "A hind-let-loose," was Naphtali, And quick to strike the bargain best. "Think ye, I bring a spicy tart, Or sweet-meats for our worthy guest?" The youth replied, "if so ye're wrong, I've bought a well-preserved tongue." "The tongue had neither fat nor bone, Is tender, sweet and toothsome; This the food that not alone Humans eat, but also angels gladsome." "Well done," the rabbi said. "Now go My boy, and buy the 'worst' you know." Again the lad went out, and back He came with his bargain gruesome. A goodly tongue he showed, the same, He first did say was wholesome. "How's that, my son," the father said, "Can one thing be both good and bad?" "Yes, father," said young Naphtali, "In Holy Writ, in Book of Scriptures, Much wisdom and delight I've found, Thus saith the word of inspired song; Both life and death are in the tongue!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE RABBI'S SON-IN-LAW by SABINE BARING-GOULD A LITTLE HISTORY by DAVID LEHMAN FOR I WILL CONSIDER YOUR DOG MOLLY by DAVID LEHMAN JEWISH GRAVEYARDS, ITALY by PHILIP LEVINE NATIONAL THOUGHTS by YEHUDA AMICHAI SOUNDS OF THE RESURRECTED DEAD MAN'S FOOTSTEPS (#3): 2. ANGEL ... by MARVIN BELL |
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