Psalm

PSALM Song 1.

O Zion (O Zion) I long for thee (O Zion) O Jewel O Treasure O Sanctum… …of my soul.

For There (O There) sweet music plays.

For There (O There) my God awaits me (smiling, benevolent).

Like a child He lifts me, and caresses my hair.

Spoken: Do you remember how Papa loved his tea, sipping…

(I remember) …from the saucer.

Sriffft!

Sriffft!

Lemon.

Sugar.

His lips wet. (gleaming) (glistening) And Mama…

(Dear Mama!) like an angel (from Heaven) …calling out: “A little more butter, Morris?”

“More herring?”

“More pot cheese?”

God! Amazing!

Everything she made, Mama…

(Everything!)

Breads!

Stews!

Nut cake!

Sponge cake! …was like honey, was like honey flowing.

Song 2.

I desire you.

I desire you.

I desire you (O God) like a river (receding) desires its bed.

I embrace you.

I embrace you.

I embrace you (O Lord) like a child (returning) embraces his home.

At night (O Lord) you lean over me.

By day you are at my side. Â Â

Spoken: Papa.

Papa.

My dearest Papa.

Why on this night do we eat unleavened bread?

Why on this night Do we eat Chorossis?

Morar?

Passoch!

Passover!

(The Holy Passover!)

The Cummish!

The Matzoh!

The Radish!

The Herbs!

(Papa, my darling Papa!)

Baruch ataw Adonoi elohenu Adonoi elohenu Melech awolum.

Adonoi elohenu Melech awolum.

And remember, Papa‌Elijah?...the affokomin, we hid?...the Manechewitz?...the fish?

Song 3.

Without you O Lord (I admit) I cannot stand.

No ground (no structure) can support me.

Without you O God (like a drunk) I start to fall.

No hand (no shoulder) can sustain me.

Who is like you, my shining Lord?

Who that is living can even compare?

Without you I sink in quicksand.

Without you I disappear.

Spoken: And Brenda died.

(And Sammy Orloff) And Harry’s daughter (from Boca Raton).

And your Mel. (and my Doris) And Solly Katz… …and Izzy Pearl.

All dead. (dead) And Mama, also (may she rest in peace).

And Mama’s cousin (Philly Stein) who played the horses (fat Leo’s son).

And Sally Reuben.

And Aaron Chase.

And Nat… …the barber (who loved… …to sing).

Harry Kubelsky (from heart disease).

And what’s-her-name?

Marsha?

Myra?

Brezky?

Brenefsky?

With all those crazy… …dogs she had.

Song 5.

My God is my redeemer (my salvation).

My God is my redeemer (my salvation).

He is my morning.

He is my night Let other people stare at the heavens.

Let other people examine the skies.

But my God (the absolver) is beyond all conception.

Like the air He surrounds me.

Like the enveloping wind.

Hurt me and my Lord comes running.

Strike me and he springs into view My God is my redeemer (my salvation).

He is my substance.

He is my food.

Spoken: So Harry took us… (he did) …to Ruby Foos, (to Ruby Foos by the Brooklyn Bridge).

And they had… (of course) …everything there: Spare ribs.

Egg rolls.

And those fat… …little dumpling things (Bon tons?

Won tons?).

And shrimps (they had), the most wonderful… …butterfly shrimps.

Song 5.

Up-end me (O Lord) and still I’ll befriend you.

Brush by me (O God) and I’ll cling to your hem.

Keep silent (O Master) and still I will hear you.

Be absent (O King) and I’ll call out Your name.

In the sky (I see you).

In the grass (I see you).

In the hills (I see you).

In the lakes (I see you).

You dance in my heart (O Lord).

You dance in my eyes.

Spoken: I’ve got such heartburn, Ida. Like fire it burns, flowing… (flowing) …like acid flowing.

A twinge (a pain) twisting (turning) (running up my arm).

The oranges?

The tomatoes, maybe?

Those grapes I ate?

Song 6.

O Lord!

O Lord!

O Lord!

O Lord!

Days pass…weeks, months, years, eternities.

Where are you hiding (my lovely Lord)?

Over here?

Over there?

But wait!

Wait!

Listen!

Ta ra!

A trumpet sounds!

Ta ra!

Ta ra!

Drums I hear! (harps, cymbals) The sounds of convening (the tramping of feet).

God is coming!

God is advancing!

And the birds are singing!

Ta ra!

Ta ra!

Ta ra!

Ta ra!

And I too am crowing, Lord.

And I too am flapping my wings.

Spoken: Please David (please) throw me away rip out my heart (my lungs, David).

How will you live?

How, my darling?

How? On air?

On the charity of others?

Song 7.

O Lord, (O God) my enemies surround me.

They are everywhere.

They abuse me.

They shatter my soul.

They are as plentiful (O Lord) as the leafy forests.

They are as numerous (O God) as the spreading trees.

When, O when, are you coming (my protector)?

When, O when, will you appear?

Each day…

(I swear it!) …I look out for you.

I shudder.

(I strain).

I examine the skies.

“Mercy” is your blazon.

“Justice”…your hallowed name.