A Purim Ode In Rhyme For 5761

"The Masks We Wear"
by Scott A. Gurdin, Rabbi

Customs come, traditions stay
It's Purim Eve,
What can I say?!

To celebrate this joyous time
some thoughts I'll share
for you in rhyme.

Please don't worry,
never fear,
I do this rhyme thing
every year

A Purim rhyme to think and ponder
Take care now please,
lest mind doth wander
For lurking well beneath this verse
a worthwhile lesson to rehearse.

On this most joyous Purim eve
a curious practice to believe
This holiday is brimming bright
to conjure laughter,
heart's delight

A custom that contributes thus
light hearted joking without fuss
is the funny clothing some do wear
costumes and masks and wigs with hair

On Purim when we celebrate
Jews' heroics, Haman's fate
Costumes many choose to don
all in good spirit,
hopes for fun

The costumes in general
they should be seen
the folks in the story
of Esther, the Queen.

In Esther's scroll some folks find mention
Ahashuerus and Mordechai, receive attire attention
Perhaps as Vashti, one might dress
Or evil Haman to confess

Most popular of all by far
The costume so many will wear
The hero of our story is
Queen Esther, brave and fair

On Purim, there's a special reason
for the costumes of the season
They help us to act out the tale
of Esther's courage not to fail

Enhance the story, yes they do
ancient legend alive for me and you
Long ago seems like now
Faraway -- right here, and how
Thanks to costumes what is old,
seems like new

When we're dressed like the folks,
in the story we read
What more could one then want
or possibly need

Well, I do kind of wonder
just in case someone asks
about the curious notions
that justifies wearing masks

I'm not thinking of disguises
that are worn for this day
With good reason Purim masks
something good do they say

No, I am referring,
and addressing right here
"other" masks that many of us
so frequently wear
They're not masks that appear,
like some person with fame
But instead, as our everyday face
look the same

They are masks that we use
to hide what we're doing
conceal what we're thinking
our true selves misconstruing

They are masks that prevent us
from saying what we should
'cause to do so
might cause us
some harm or no-good

They're the masks that we put on
to suit our desires, if we might
to get what we want
without regard for what's right

You get the idea,
they're the masks of the phoney
of folks who are filled with
moral baloney

Purim masks make us smile
maybe laugh for a while
They certainly do us no harm
But masks that keep hid
underneath a tight lid
our true selves – these are cause for alarm

Our faces and spirits
they're just great, yes indeed
The mask of a phoney
I think you don't need

Well, the point has been made
no real cause to go on
The time to conclude, it is here
Purim rhyme now is done
I do hope it was fun
try again, I just might, in a year.

HAPPY PURIM!!!