New Year’s Resolutions – A poem for Rosh Hashana

The New Year is coming and
I make these promises –

I will invest in apples.

I will open negotiations with the bees
to make sure they have what they need
to continue their work.

I will set foot inside a synagogue.
(Maybe both feet.)

I will not judge a shofar
by its length.

When the sun sets on Fridays
I will not treat it like
any other day.

I will learn how to pull the first tissue
out of the box without destroying it
and the next five. (That may not be specific
to Rosh Hashanah but it’s on my mind
and there must be something in there
about improving one’s skills.)

I will give to those who need and
ask for help when I am the one who needs.

I will drive on the road like I am
the least important person on the road.

I will spend more time outside and as
much time downstairs as I do upstairs
so neither gets jealous.

I will bake more quiches with my son.

I will love the ones I vehemently disagree with
so much.

I will take all the money I make from
investing in apples and donate it to bees
or to charity, or to a bee charity.

I will try not to break these promises
even though a document is coming on
Yom Kippur which tells me I
probably will.

I
will do the best
I can.

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