Ten Haiku Motif (times 3) on Eighteen ©
As is the case with
So much in our lives many
Things are not simple
As a Jew there’s joy
To life to life l’chaim
L’chaim eighteen
Eighteen here is known
Especially to Jews who
Study Kabbalah
Eighteen is special
Jewish mystical concept
Of Gematria
The Hebrew word chai
Has two letters, chet and yud
Letters eight and ten
Chai is Hebrew and
Means life so eighteen stands for life,
Good fortune, balance
Understanding this
Connection for Jews only
Whets your appetite
Eighteen is special
In a lot of different ways
Here are just a few
As former caddy
Anticipating the round
That is eighteen holes
These eighteen holes may
Be frustrating for most of
That day’s best efforts
In the end hitting
The perfect shot say four or
Five times makes life good
For avid golfers
Eighteen will be a challenge
A worthwhile pursuit
There is more but not
Necessarily a source
Of celebration
Eighteen can evoke
Feelings of dread for youngsters
And their guardians
Draft eligible
During the VietNam war
On eighteenth birthday
Knowing age eighteen
Means now being considered
An adult is joyous
Nearing age eighteen
Likely to evoke clashing
Emotional states
Eighteen may be for
Some personal, for others
May be collective
American pride
Independence gained in the
Eighteenth century
The concept of an
Individual being
Equal blossomed here
Equality though
Has been a halting journey
Not yet completed
One among many
Missteps was the passing of
Amendment 18
The prohibition
Amendment, number eighteen
Barred one’s behavior
The writers of the
Constitution valued our
Rights to make choices
Amendment eighteen
Revoked that right and in the
End it was revoked
Eighteen’s a number
Fraught with meaning and passion
A trigger for me
If you are like me
There are things that bring many
Feelings instantly
Feelings that delight
And disturb the soul that are
Complex hard to sort
Eighteen I hold you
In a special place and think
Remember best ones
As a Jew there’s joy
To life to life l’chaim
L’chaim to life
Inspired by prompt from Dr Jeremy P of Chicago