Sway

No, this isn't some Yeshiva Guy rendition of the Dean Martin song by the same name. Or even an article about me convincing some poor, lost soul to become Yeshivish. Nope, this post is a...poem. By me. Yup, if you're a fellow Yeshiva Guy, this isn't for you. And never bring this up again- I'd be that embarrassed about it.

If, on the other hand, you aren't a Yeshiva Bochur, by all means read the below terrible example of a Yeshiva Bochur's version of free verse- I know, it's form is a closer cousin to prose than poetry, but then again, if you were expecting dactylic hexameter you wouldn't be here. 

A word of background about the subject:

Typically, Yeshiva Bochurim, when either davening (praying) or learning Torah tend to "shockel" (Yiddish). Shockeling (verb of shockel) is a form of swaying back and forth, typically to a tune or to the famous niggun frequently employed when learning Gemara. Most cheder students ingrain this tune and the associated shockeling by osmosis before age eight or nine. For females, shockeling is less standard, although the extremely greased/yeshivishe ladies and Rebbetzins have been known to do so while in a particularly deep Shemona Esray. The below attempts to describe this scene or act.

I wish 

I could

Join them.

Swaying.

I watch 

Them. Endless rows

Of white shirts

On oak benches.

Swaying.

Wish I 

Could be

Together with 

Them.

Swaying.

Now, Booming debate

Thunderous resolution

By Rebbi.

And again, together

Swaying.

Jealous. Of

All the types.

Learning. Shteiging

Together

Swaying.

But, I can

And now,

Finally. I 

Join them.

I. Am. 

Swayed.

Poetry from On High...

...well, not really. But this is an amazing poem from "The Curious Jew".

I know what you're thinking. The Yeshiva Guy posting poetry? And I sort of agree with you-

its a little, OK a lot, sappy. But what should I do. Its an amazing poem. Cool, too.

It reminds me of Abie Rotenberg's "Little Kite" from Journeys II. Sadly, Blip/Youtube don't seem to have anything for this, so I can't give you a link for the song, other than this MostlyMusic.com link where you can hear short preview of the song, or download the album for $12. To hear the preview, scroll down and click on the Little Kite song play button.

And now a selection from the poem; to read the piece in it's entirety, click this to go "The Curious Jew"s blog post called "Goodbye".

“Goodbye,” she said to her balloon.
“I hope you travel to the moon.
I hope that you are happy lots
and visit God and lightbulb watts.
I hope you have a great adventure,
untouched by any public censure.
I hope for you, my dear balloon;
I hope you travel to the moon."

...

But balloons were made for flight
and she was made for star-filled nights
with fire-flies that buzzed about
and glittered beyond any doubt.

...

She turned once more to the golden sky
unto which her balloon did fly.
“God,” she said, “take care of him.
Please see he doesn’t sink, but swims.
Please shower him with eternal grace;
and the light of Your shining face.
Watch over him ‘cause I’m not there
and I don’t want him to be scared.”

She put a brave smile on her face
and crying, turned to leave the place
where she said goodbye to her balloon
so he could travel to the moon.

...And to find out the rest of the poem and what happened to the balloon on his journey, you'll need to go to the original poster's site.