By Eileen Wingard
LA JOLLA — This month students will have their turn when the final “Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices” evening of the year is presented at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, in the Astor Judaica Library at the Lawrence Family JCC .
The program will feature Becca Meyers from High Tech High School, Lily Greenberg Call, Yardyn Shraga, Tiana Piegeon , Ali Tradonsky and Katie Sherman from the San Diego Jewish Academy and Tova Adatto, Yona Sefchovich, Caleb Goode, Adir Haim and Basya Rosenberg from the Soille Hebrew Day School. A half-hour open mike will follow which will be open to poets and lyricists of all ages. RSVP to Susan Hagler: 858-457-3030.
At the last program, on Feb. 21, three women were featured: Ida Deichaite, Joan Kurland and the late Gertrude Rubin via her daughter Bonnie Baron.
Ida Deichaite, director of industry relations for the Moores UCSD Cancer Center, read one of her poems written in her native language of Lithuanian. Several of her poems were illustrated by imaginative videos. For her final offering, a dialogue between a man and a woman, she invited her friends Michael Horvitz and Carole Marks to recite the impressive piece. Here is a sample of her poetry:
On the Run
I am afraid of not moving
I am afraid to move
I am afraid of darkness
I am afraid of routines
I am afraid to lose
I am afraid to gain
I am afraid again
action, inaction, reaction,
transaction, laughter, tears
or the other way around
I am afraid of stopping
to be afraid
Joan Kurland, a popular local entertainer, lyricist and teacher, presented a selection of her original works including the following song:
The Right Kind of Wrong
You’re the right kind of wrong for me
And although I can clearly see
That you’re breaking my heart and we’re better apart
You’re the right kind of wrong for me
You’re the type that destroys my brain
I forget about all the pain
Tho it’s easy to tell that you’ll put me through hell
You’re the right kind of wrong for me
When the phone rings and it’s you on the line
My heart starts beatin’ halfway out of my chest
When you hold me and you say I’m divine
Your kiss makes me forget about all the rest
I’ve been down this same road before
But when you knock upon my door
I lose all common sense I’m a ditz in a trance
‘Cause you’re the right kind of wrong for me
Gertrude Rubin received her Master’s of Fine Arts in Poetry from the University of Illinois when she was in her fifties. She published books of poetry and her work appeared in a number of poetry anthologies. One of Rubin’s selections read by daughter Bonnie Baron was:
Passover For The Residents
They were brought downstairs
early. For each: a small
Seder plate of matzos, apple-
sauce, parsley, roasted egg.
Horseradish and fish-balls.
All went well, but someone at
Table Six took a sip of wine
before the first blessing. Was
It Ida, who burst into tears
and begged to leave the room?
Anna was festive in black silk,
faux pearls. Her remaining leg
sported a T-strap sandal…
Later, they sang songs praising
(in unison) God’s miracles—
“Day-Day-Enu! Day-Day-Enu!”
Clapping like children: like
Seers whose practiced hands
summon the past. After the meal,
they were wheeled down
a corridor, only to wait at
the Center’s stalled elevator.
Suddenly they were Israelites
“come out of Egypt.” Huddled at
the edge of the Red Sea,
Praying it would open.
*
Wingard is a freelance writer based in San Diego. She may be contacted at eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com