from "Julius Jaffe: The Poems" [by Mitch Sisskind]

Julius Jaffe and the Angel of Death

 

Julius Jaffe was carrying a large box of bricks.

The day was hot. Too exhausted to go on,

Julius Jaffe dropped the box and called on

The Angel of Death to rescue him from

This life. Instantly the Angel appeared

And said, "Can I be of service to you, sir?"

Now trembling in fear, Julius Jaffe said,

"No, but how do you like them Cubbies?"

This shows the foolishness of Julius Jaffe!

Parable & Paradox

When Mort Plotkin died Julius Jaffe said,

"Mort Plotkin was a great businessman

"Except he never made any money."

Julius Jaffe added, "He was in the

"Schmateh business except he was

"Never in the schmateh business."

Herman Fishman asked, "Can this be?"

Julius Jaffe answered, "Yes and no."

He added, "Maybe and maybe not."

Feh!

Julius Jaffe said, "I will marry Esther Tabachnik."

He went on, in the name of Rabbi Rabinowitz,

"A man alone in a room -- feh, feh, feh! --

"Lilith will tempt him in the midnight hour,

"But Esther Tabachnik's price is above rubies,

"Her husband's heart safely resides with her,

"Nor doth she tempt him in all her days."

Jess Rabin said, "Feh! I mean, congratulations."

Comments

[sarah gelder]

I never undertstood "feh" until I met Julius Jaffe.

[Jill Newnham]

I liked these poems very much but wonder what does the "schmateh business"refer to?

[mitch sisskind]

Hi,schmateh means cheap low-quality clothing,like junk!

[Summer Brenner]

Thank you, Mitch Sisskind. I think your poems always get to the ultimate relativity of everything: "Yes and no."/ "Maybe and maybe not." From a person who used to believe in absolutes!