End Papers

Zen Laughs

Don’t let the unfunny introduction to “Haikus for Jews” (Harmony Books, $11) fool you. The rest of this little book is pretty hilarious. All we know about New York-based writer David M. Bader is that, according to his bio, he is “not even distantly related to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, though he insists on referring to her as ‘Aunt Ruth.'”

Each haiku is a well-metered, 5-7-5 syllable bastardization of that ancient, less-is-more Japanese art form, and most hit home. Like this:

Hey! Get back indoors!

&’009;Whatever you were doing

&’009;&’009;could put an eye out.

Or this:

Today I am a

&’009;man. Tomorrow I return

&’009;&’009;to the seventh grade.

All we can say is:

You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll

&’009;ask why such a small book costs

&’009;&’009;eleven dollars.