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LngJhnAg
Member Elite
since 1999-07-23
Posts 3508
Boot+Kitty=Poetry in motion

0 posted 1999-07-28 09:34 PM


Debate
Long John

About 1,000 years ago in the city we call Rome,
The Pope decided it was time for all the Jews to go.
And so he met the Rabbis to tell them to vacate,
His Holy Roman Empire, the seat of God's estate.

The Rabbis asked the Pope to give them a fair shake,
Just one chance to sway him in an open-air debate.
The Pope was sure of being right so he agreed to their request.
"The Lord is on my side, so I'll debate your best."

Now Moishe was a good man, a few years past his prime,
Though not their best teacher, the Rabbis thought he'd do just fine.
When Moishe met with the Pope for the debate out in the street,
He said, "Lets make this interesting, neither one of us should speak."

The Pope was sure of his righteousness (he knew that he would win),
And so he said, "That's fine with me, so let the debate begin."
The Pope raised three fingers, pointing toward the sky.
Moishe thought a moment, then raised one finger in reply.

Then the Pope raised his hand, and waved it all around,
Moishe pondered but a second, then pointed at the ground.
The Pope then raised a chalice, filled with bright red wine,
And showed in his other hand some wafers, alabaster white.

Moishe paused a moment, then showed an apple, firm and bright,
"I concede I acted hastily," is all the Holy Pope replied.
And thus the debate ended, and the Jews were allowed to stay,
In their homes in Holy Rome, and weren't forced to move away.

The cardinals met with the Pope, to ask what had been said,
And why it was the Jews had won, and not the Pope instead.
"When I raised three fingers, for the Holy Trinity,
Moishe raised one finger, for in one God we all believe."

"When I waved my hand, to show God was all around,
Moishe remarked God is here, by pointing at the ground."
"When I showed the wine and bread for absolution of our sin,
Moishe showed an apple, for where all our sins begin."

"I realized Moishe had an answer for every point I made,
So perhaps it would be better if we allowed the Jews to stay."
The rabbis met with Moishe, to asked what he'd replied,
When the Pope was positive that God was on his side.

"The Pope signed we'd be leaving Rome within the next three days.
I replied not one Jew would leave; that we were here to stay."
"The Pope said he'd scatter us to the corners of the Earth.
I said we would stay right here, where our children were given birth."

"I remained firm in my stance, though I'd fallen far behind,
It was then the Pope took out his bread and his cup of wine.
I thought it was kind of early, the morning was hardly through,
But I decided to pause with him and take out my lunch, too."


[This message has been edited by LngJhnAg (edited 07-29-99).]

© Copyright 1999 Michael Waterman - All Rights Reserved
LngJhnAg
Member Elite
since 1999-07-23
Posts 3508
Boot+Kitty=Poetry in motion
1 posted 1999-07-28 10:39 PM


Yanno, I worked my lil tail off on this one - I ain't gonna let it slide off the bottom of the list without even ONE comment - lol
Seeking77
Junior Member
since 1999-07-09
Posts 24
Irvine california
2 posted 1999-07-28 10:45 PM


Here is your ONE comment...but I still have no idea what I just read...help me out...Xplain!
LngJhnAg
Member Elite
since 1999-07-23
Posts 3508
Boot+Kitty=Poetry in motion
3 posted 1999-07-28 10:52 PM


A friend of mine told me this story. Its a joke about miscommunication - the Pope was on one channel, Moishe on another (more secular) channel. The challenge for me was to rewrite the story as a poem, and make the punchline come out as the last line.
LngJhnAg
Member Elite
since 1999-07-23
Posts 3508
Boot+Kitty=Poetry in motion
4 posted 1999-07-28 10:58 PM


oops - I forgot to add.. All poetry need not be serious or profound. I write poetry for the pure joy of turning a phrase, making thoughts flow smoothly, and giving a part of myself to others. I believe that a person isn't a poet if his heart doesn't sing when the words begin to flow. I'm not always striving to be profound, but I am always striving to be a poet.
elvira
Senior Member
since 1999-07-06
Posts 936
California
5 posted 1999-07-28 11:14 PM


i enjoy a good light-hearted poem

------------------
I will live my life as i, will undoubtedly die - alone ~~~Morrissey~~~

Delores Hall
Member
since 1999-07-16
Posts 342
USA
6 posted 1999-07-28 11:49 PM


Good work.What an imagination.
Princess Lily
Member
since 1999-07-13
Posts 149
USA
7 posted 1999-07-29 12:27 PM


This was very good.Keep up the wonderful work!~Lily

------------------
We see only what we want to see~unless perhaps~we believe

*A rose is a rose it withers and dies...so long as you keep it the memories stay alive*


LngJhnAg
Member Elite
since 1999-07-23
Posts 3508
Boot+Kitty=Poetry in motion
8 posted 1999-07-29 09:18 AM


elvira, Delores and Lily,

Thank you for your comments - I was beginning to think I'd been ostracized for my sacreligious poem.

deannamarie
Junior Member
since 1999-07-26
Posts 43
WI
9 posted 1999-07-29 10:39 AM


I understood this. The miscommunication was very ironic ( is that the right word?) Witty and clever.

[This message has been edited by deannamarie (edited 07-29-99).]

elvira
Senior Member
since 1999-07-06
Posts 936
California
10 posted 1999-07-29 10:40 AM


...er...well...i must admit...the vatican contacted me and asked for your e-mail address

------------------
If I had my mouth I would bite.
If I had my liberty I would do my liking.
In the mean time, let me be that I am, and seek not to alter me. ~~~Shakespeare~~~

blueloon
Member
since 1999-07-07
Posts 161
NY
11 posted 1999-07-29 10:45 AM


While reading this i had to LOL do to the fact that my dearest mother is a born again...I may have to e-mail her this very poem to allow her to see there is always more ways than one! Thank you Sir John.
blueloon

LngJhnAg
Member Elite
since 1999-07-23
Posts 3508
Boot+Kitty=Poetry in motion
12 posted 1999-07-29 10:48 AM


whew!!! Somebody DID get the punchline. Thank you one and all.

Lady Blue

I hope your Mom has a sense of humor - some people go way overboard on any form of religious humor. Strange, eh?

blueloon
Member
since 1999-07-07
Posts 161
NY
13 posted 1999-07-29 11:04 AM


Sir John,

Tit tis strange how one shall read religious humor, but I? I let my laughter be heard by my own God and that is the only thing that matters...LOL...
Lady Blue

Toerag
Member Ascendant
since 1999-07-29
Posts 5622
Ala bam a
14 posted 1999-07-29 11:13 AM


And LongJohn my dear friend...you haven't changed a lick have ya?...Great Poem...
LngJhnAg
Member Elite
since 1999-07-23
Posts 3508
Boot+Kitty=Poetry in motion
15 posted 1999-07-29 11:15 AM


Toe!!!

How are ya, you old reprobate! I've really missed your humor. I'm glad you dropped by. Is Belle coming along?

Toerag
Member Ascendant
since 1999-07-29
Posts 5622
Ala bam a
16 posted 1999-07-29 11:27 AM


Gonna tell her about it in a few minutes LJA....thanks for pointing me in this direction......nice place....
Toerag
Member Ascendant
since 1999-07-29
Posts 5622
Ala bam a
17 posted 1999-07-29 12:01 PM


Yanno LongJohn......I remember the poem about the "Trek in the blizzard"...that would be ideal for here...don't ya think?
suthern
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723
Louisiana
18 posted 1999-07-29 12:06 PM


Hiya, reprobate... Belle has arrived! *G* And I agree with Toe... that blizzard outing deserves an encore appearance!
LngJhnAg
Member Elite
since 1999-07-23
Posts 3508
Boot+Kitty=Poetry in motion
19 posted 1999-07-29 12:08 PM


well.... I gotta go find it first. And then I gotta hope that mentioning a brand name product will not get me too much chastizing.
latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
20 posted 2010-06-14 02:38 AM


lol
Amaryllis
Senior Member
since 2010-05-20
Posts 1306
Mi now
21 posted 2010-06-14 03:31 PM


Lol! Great one, this  
latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
22 posted 2010-12-28 06:50 PM


Reading this all over and I really did and do now enjoy it. You were so prolific.Come back please. martyjo/latearrival
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