Caravans of Clouds

Looked up one morn and there you were,
Long way from home.

Down by the ocean, you took my hand,
Long time ago.

Caravans of clouds crossed the sky,
Caravans of clouds passed me by.

Cardamon, saffron, myrrh,
Slowly passed me by.

You are my love, my true dear friend,
On this spacious earth.

Lillicoy, Oh My Joy

Lillicoy, oh my joy,

Guava my darlin'.

Went down to find my love in the garden,

Papaya, oolala,

Guava my darlin'.

Underneath the banyan tree,

There he slept so peacefully.

Banana, nanana,

Guava my darlin'.

It twas in the mornin' mist,

When we first began to kiss.

Prickly pear, do I dare,

Guava my darlin'.

Do ya, do ya, love me true?

Oh yes, my darlin',

Spring Loneliness

spring loneliness -
it falls short of the surf
this stone I toss
              Suzuki Masajo

autumn loneliness -
like saffron, cardamon, turmeric,
it comes with many tastes
this pot I stir
                Jiya

Cherry Blossoms

in the shadow of the cherry blossom
complete strangers
there are none......
                    Issa

we meet at Sinai
in the brilliance of revelation
there are no strangers
neither in time, nor space.
                      Jiya

Gabriella

Gabby, Gabriella,
Haifa by the sea,

We shared a common desk,
Gabby, Gabriella,
Her blond braids,
I'd never seen anyone more beautiful.

Where Were You?

And they will ask, "Where were you
during the holocaust of the animals?"

And they will ask "Do you recall Sobibor
when 600 calves, goats, ducks bit through 

barbed wire fences and fled to the Polish woods
to join the Partisans?"

And they will ask "Where were you Grandma, 

Nana, Aji, Safta?

And you will say, "Don't worry your pretty
heads my sweet ones.  I was at my barbecue 

roasting one of their cousins."

Saying Kaddish

Beyond all songs, all blessings,
beyond all praises, all comforts
let us praise your great Name.

When diminished, orphaned, enslaved,
let the heart swell up and 

praise your great Name.

When outcast, spurned, in despair,
let us find strength, stand our ground,
and fuse with the Divine.


In spring, frogs surface from their pools,
remember, you don't have to explain or apologize,
you are alive, one day you will go.


Saying Kaddish for our cherished expectations,
for our picture perfect life, for how it should all unfold 

and on what timeline.