Don't Ask, Son - Poem

Judaism, Wntr, 2000 by Gershon Hepner

Some people come to hear the story,

the wonders and the signs,

the rationale of rituals gory,

and read between the lines

the tale they wish to hear: the wise

the wicked and the plain,

the one who does not ask, four guys

who cannot feel the pain

the ancestors once felt, and joy

their father wishes now

to share with them. They don't annoy

if they participate,

by asking stupid questions he

is happy they have come,

however wayward they may be,

or simple, even dumb.

The wise one learns no story for

he only studies laws;

the wicked one, not shown the door,

is made to clench his jaws.

The simple one is told a tale

a child could understand,

but, well within the pale,

will learn far more than those who bask

in having been delivered.

No answers to what others ask

provide for him a pivot,

because their questions have no answers;

he senses history

is not where he would take his chances,

but silent mystery.

GERSHON HEPNER is a physician who is writing a commentary on the Torah when not writing poetry. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and has four wise children.