Jewish Haikus
Published on March 14, 2001

I’ve gotten this several times now, and you probably have, too

I’ve gotten this several times now, and you probably have, too.  But can we risk that you have not?

 

Here they are, 17 syllables apiece, 5 – 7 – 5.  I have taken the liberty of highlighting a couple of the most important ones:

 

Hey! Get back indoors!

Whatever you were doing

could put an eye out.

 

Testing the warm milk

on her wrist, she beams -- nice, but

her son is forty.

 

Lovely nose ring --

excuse me while I put my

head in the oven.

 

After the warm rain,

the sweet scent of camellias.

Did you wipe your feet?

 

Wet moss on the old

stone path -- flat on my back, I

ponder whom to sue.

 

·        Today I am a

·        man. On Monday I return

·        to the seventh grade.

 

Left the door open

for the Prophet Elijah.

Now our cat is gone.

 

In the ice sculpture

reflected bar-mitzvah guests

nosh on chopped liver.

 

Beyond Valium,

the peace of knowing one's child

is an internist.

 

The same kimono

the top geishas are wearing --

got it at Loehmann's.

 

Jewish triathlon --

gin rummy, then contract bridge,

followed by a nap.

 

Would-be convert lost --

thawed Lender's Bagels made a

bad first impression.

 

Today, mild shvitzing.

Tomorrow, so hot you'll plotz.

Five-day forecast -- feh.

 

·        Yom Kippur -- forgive

·        me, God, for the Mercedes

·        and all the lobsters.

 

As always, if anyone knows who actually wrote these, I’d love to give credit where credit is due.  Here are three financial haikus:

 

Winter of the bear.

What fun is there in bonds?  None.

Boy needs some action.

 

Priceline – ice cold ego.

Bezos could have a shot, though

No more big discounts.

 

Stock market deep freeze,

Taxes kept me from selling.

I'm an idiot.

 



© 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Andrew Tobias