By Eileen Wingard
LA JOLLA, California — The Exhibit on Aging served as a fitting backdrop to the Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices program, held in the Gotthelf Gallery of the Lawrence Family JCC Thursday, May 2.
The forty plus people who gathered were well-rewarded with inspiring poems by three senior citizens. Janice Alper and Dr. Irvin Jacobs are local residents, while the third poet, Chana Givon, was a Southern Californian before making aliyah to Israel. Her friend, Ellen Zyroff, read the poetry of Givon, an active and talented great-grandmother, now residing in Jerusalem.
The program opened with Janice Alper. Although this Jewish educator took up poetry writing later in life, she is the editor of the local Osher Literary Journal. She brought several of her poetry-writing colleagues, who offered selections during the open microphone segment of the evening.
Alper read her poems about the aging process and one, written that same day, was a reaction to the Poway Chabad Synagogue tragedy, from the perspective of the mother of the terrorist (see below).
Chana Givon’s poetry reflected her deep love of Israel. A humorous example was about her receiving the mail
for the soldier son of a friend. When he asked her to open it, she found green socks. This inspired the poem below.
Dr. Jacobs, after retiring as a physician, went on to earn two masters degrees, one in public health and one in
creative writing. During the course work for the latter, he took a poetry class and the poem below, was written during that period. Many of his works were expressions of his love of family.
Most of the open microphone selections were connected with the topic of aging. Joy Heizmann served as moderator for the evening and three other members of the Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices Committee, Michael Horvitz, Sara Appel-Lenon and I, read poems during open microphone.
Melanie Rubin in addition to being in charge of the JCC’s Senior Programming is in charge of the Astor Judaica Library’s activities, including this program. She presented a bouquet of flowers to the committee chair, honoring the eleven years of Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices at the JCC.
LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME
by Janice Alper
For Mrs. Earnest
Unimaginable
flames destroy your home
memories turned to ashes.
A plane crash with no survivors
Limbs blown off from a land mine
Life will never be the same.
Today your son is a headline
a killer
impressed by other killers
this child of your loins
who fed at your breast.
You did your job
he excelled at piano,
sports,
got good grades.
You held your head high
laughed, cried, hugged, celebrated.
Today your son is a headline.
You shade your eyes
crawl into a corner
afraid to be seen
behind a curtain of shame
in every orifice in your body.
Every mother in this world knows
for you, Mrs. Earnest
life will never be the same.
DEPOSITS
by Dr. Irvin Jacobs
To the side of the Ralphs
by a walk-in dumpster,
near where shoppers are parked,
is the homeless cluster.
Bronzed and leathered by sun,
females on wobbly bikes,
men at store carts loaded
with plastic bags, and bottles,
plus cans, bed rolls and rags
–steer their loads.
Bent low, they sit on asphalt
to await a turn with
a shabby intake clerk,
to redeem deposits.
They collect from waste bins,
they dive in, inspect
our discards of Coke drinks,
for ten cents each vessel.
They ride and drag through streets,
each campus and each mall,
to round up lain booty,
their lonely day’s haul.
They talk low ‘midst themselves,
about each’s exploits,
an occasional fight
o’er another’s turf.
Politely they await,
while their fellow unloads.
The machine counts each unit,
or an aide weighs a trash
can, concludes how much cash.
Mixed in line, a housewife
With kids and a van,
Or a sportsman with Porsche,
Cash in theirs for chump change.
Credit slips in stained hands,
the vagrants troop inside,
visit cashier for bucks
to chow, then sleep beneath
–a bridge.
GREEN SOCKS
by Chana Givon
I know that Jewish people love a bagel, cheese, and lox-
But now I’ve heard it all -Israeli soldiers and green socks!!
I bet that Dr. Seuss would have a ball with such a thought –
A soldier dressed in Khaki, and green socks that he had bought!
Imagine if the other guys, enchanted at the sight –
A soldier with his bright green socks – on duty – late at night!
They might turn green with envy and just start to demonstrate
Imagine all the turmoil those green socks would then create!
They’d march into the Knesset where the members disagree
On every single subject that affects the cit’z’nry-
But who, indeed, would dare refuse the boys who guard the land
When ordering green socks for all is all that they demand!
Imagine that a bill is passed that honors the request
Green socks it is for all our boys – they do deserve the best!
And what is more – the country loves this latest innovation –
A new Israeli Holiday – the GREEN SOCK CELEBRATION!!
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Wingard is a freelance writer who specializes in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com