It Was the Night Before School…

In the Blink of an Eye – by Chana Perman

‘Twas the night before school
When all through the house,
The kiddies scrubbed clean
And professionally de-loused

Knapsacks jam-packed
Placed on hooks-near-door with care,
In anticipation of the school bus–
Dizzying routes set for upcoming year

The children were nestled
All cozy in beds
While visions of four-inch-three-ring binders
Swirled through their heads

And Mommy in a tichel – baking nut-free snacks,
Eagerly gearing up for long winter’s nap
(also anxiously checking for last minute WhatsApps)

Then out on the streets
There arose such a clatter
I bolted from the kitchen
To attend to the matter

Rushing to the window
I opened the shade,
Before my very eyes
History being made

The blasts of shofar
Steady and clear,
Lo! And behold!
Moshiach – finally! – appeared

The neighbors awakened
Incredulous and thrilled,
On the wings of an eagle,
Our prayers finally fulfilled

Now Avraham
Now Yitzchak
Yaakov and sons
Moshe, the Rambam
And departed loved ones

In the blink of an eye
All was transformed,
The suffering, the sorrow
A new world instantly born

The knapsacks and glue sticks
Those binders that bound
Dissolved into oblivion
Following shofar’s sound

The streets of Yerushalayim
Eternally ringing with laughter
Joyful tears shed…

We’ve reached
Happily Ever After

May it be speedily in our days!

Chana Perman holds a master’s degree in special education and has been in the field of education for over twenty-five years. In addition to COLlive.com, her writing has been featured on Chabad.org and in the Canadian Jewish News.