Poem: Toldot

Jacob and Esau
fighting in the womb
like kittens
one escapes, the other
hanging on by a foot.

Our first family
ladies and gentleman.

One grows hair while
their father grows blind.

One more interested
in sports on TV
than birthright
or inheritace.

Sells the whole thing
to the smooth skinned
slick talker for
a bowl of soup.

Mom set it up!
Our first family
ladies and gentleman!

Off to separate
corners, they go.

One to the desert.

One to the gentrified ‘hood
of Uncle Laban.
The source of all

Jewish wives.

I’d tell you what happened
but there’s a sequel
in the works.

That’s how they
keep you coming back.

Or first family
ladies and gentleman!

They’re coming to your town
They’ll work in your fields
They’ll marry your daughters.

But that’s a story for
another week.

Advanced tickets
on sale now. Hang on
to your brothers foot.

Rick Lupert, a poet, songleader and graphic designer, is the author of 23 books including “God Wrestler: A Poem for Every Torah Portion.”