Some things are beyond approach;
The things that are worth it aren’t.
It all really does depend on one’s
Approach; a healthy approach will
Have healthy consequences; not such
A healthy approach… well, let’s just
Say those consequences better have a
Three-piece, foulard lawyer
With that said, let us approach the
Concept of approach with some
Sensitivity, if not downright caution:
How to broach approach?
Only a direct approach would
Do approach justice, I’m sure
Things on the same page do not
Require approach: a man need not
Approach his own mind to know
What he himself is thinking; just
As a woman need not approach
Her own heart to know what she
Herself is feeling (Obviously we
Talk here of a man and woman not
Delusional or in denial – that would
Be a whole other poem altogether)
Things on different pages – most
Certainly things in different books
On different shelves – require an
Approach of some extent, where
One or the other, or both parties
Involved approach one another.
Yehuda approached him
Two entities, Yehuda and Yosef;
Both kings in their own right, kings
And the fathers of kings, royalty,
Personalities both so illustrious
And both so profound one would
Be hard pressed to envision them
Both in the same room, together
Without one trying to outwit the
Other
But these aren’t regular men; their
Greatness does not highlight another’s
Weakness; their luminance does not
Overshadow another’s light – indeed,
They inspire, their power makes all
Around them more powerful, their
Strength makes all around them
Stronger
This was Yehuda’s approach to
Yosef, bridging the gaps created
Before, transcending the differences
Of a time passed –
Approaching perfection
And when that happens…
Do not be afraid of descending to Egypt
For as a great nation I shall establish
You there
I will go down with you to Egypt
And I will also bring you up
When we are one, united, embracing one
Another, there is no need to fear any descent,
Not even into the confines of Egypt – for when
We are one, when we approach one another
He is with us…
When we approach – not reproach –
Each other, then even in Egypt
In the most stifling of all situations,
We could do anything, light anything
‘Tis indeed an approach to life
An approach that brings life
An approach that gives life…
If that is not a poetic approach
What is?
Mendel Jacobson is a writer, poet and journalist living in Brooklyn. His weekly poetry can be seen at jakeyology.blogspot.com
The words of this author reflect his/her own opinions and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Orthodox Union.