The game, or: Low expectations

An American sentence: At work, I received a very positive annual review, which made me feel awkward. What's an 'American Sentence'? Allen Ginsberg, inventor of the American Sentence, felt that the haiku didnโ€™t work as well in English. Ginsberg decided to remove the line structure of the haiku, maintaining the requirement of 17 syllables total.… Continue reading The game, or: Low expectations

Grateful for security

Be grateful for what you have and stop complaining - it bores everybody else, does you no good, and doesn't solve any problems! -Zig Ziglar (1926 โ€“ 2012) This year, after nearly thirteen years in Israel as an adult, I got a job that I can rely upon in the long term. My first reaction… Continue reading Grateful for security

Update: relief and guilt

As some of you know, I have been working at three jobs (one full-time, two part-time) since I began my new, full-time job back in early May. One of my two part-time jobs is my work for my rabbi, whom I've been working for since 2010; the other part-time job is for my former full-time… Continue reading Update: relief and guilt

Elephant, or: Future

Ya (Arabic: ูŠุง), O; hey; you; vocative particle preceding a noun used in direct address Elephant (English): a mammal and the largest existing land animal, very conspicuous I. Ya-elephant, wherefore this room? A poem, then, or-- p'raps too soon? No job in sight; the crush of debt; Ya-elephant doth sit and fret, And yet... Ya-elephant,… Continue reading Elephant, or: Future

Looks, swims, quacks, or: Silly goose

A Choka even though I'm blessed even though it gives me pride even for a cause even with kind, friendly folks even for good pay even with a strong union even close to home even at a storied site It feels much like work to me Choka? The most intricate Japanese Poetry form is the… Continue reading Looks, swims, quacks, or: Silly goose

Ablaze in embarrassment, or: Lesson learned

A haibun Cheeks ablaze in embarrassment, I stare at the computer screen in the privacy of my office. The email I'm reading does not contain all of the information necessary for me to complete my report, and it's my fault because I forgot to ask one particularly pivotal question of our representative in the field.… Continue reading Ablaze in embarrassment, or: Lesson learned

Warm, welcoming work culture

Sorry, WP Friends I've been feeling guilty of late because, for the past two weeks, I've been struggling to find the time to comment on all of my WP friends' blogs. Two weeks ago was when I began my new job at The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI). Like many Israelis, I have more than… Continue reading Warm, welcoming work culture