Can I Get an Amen! – A poem for Parsha Ki Tavo

Cursed be he who does not uphold the words of this Torah, to fulfill them.
And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
          Deuteronomy 27:26

Shout it from one of the mountains:

Cursed is the person who worships
the television over the human.

Cursed is the person who forgets
what their parents did for them.

Cursed is the person who builds
a swimming people on their
neighbor’s property.

Cursed is the person who
disenfranchises the less able
by not building them possibilities.

Cursed is the person who
removes context from
the words of others.

Cursed is the person who is
naughty with anyone they
shouldn’t be naughty with.

Cursed is the person who
waves their arms around
like a bully when they think
no one is watching.

Cursed is the person who
lets the law slide for
personal gain.

Cursed is the person who
crosses any of the lines of
common sense on purpose.

Shout it from the other mountain:

Heading here, or away?
We’ve got you.
You’re blessed.

Can I get an Amen!

Rick Lupert, a poet, songleader and graphic designer, is the author of 27 books including “God Wrestler: A Poem for Every Torah Portion.”