I have been thinking a lot about the word Dayenu, which we hear each year at the Passover seder.
What’s dayenu? Here’s a definition condensed from Wiki:
“…The word “dayenu” is Hebrew for “it is enough for us” or “we would have been satisfied.” The song lists the miracles…performed for the Jewish people…The song follows the format “If G-d had done x and not done y, dayenu. If G-d had done y and not done z, dayenu,” and so on. This…expression of gratitude… helps to inculcate a mindset of thankfulness that is appropriate outside the confines of the Seder as well.
I decided to copy the original format (which you can read here) and apply it to one day in my life. Warning…this is pretty long. My goal in writing poetry and picture books is to condense, condense, like a soup stock. But, ironically, this takes time–if I had longer to work on the poem it would be shorter! So here is a first version of a poem incorporating the idea of Dayenu. What could be a better writing assignment? Relive a really wonderful day.
DAYENU (pronounced: die-Ay-new)
by April Halprin Wayland
xxxxx
If we had driven along the jungley road
And not found the hiking trail
Dayenu
If we had found the hiking trail
And had not reached the hill overlooking the ocean
Dayenu
If we had reached the hill overlooking the ocean
And hadn’t noticed the turquoise water, the hundred shades of green and that red dirt
Dayenu
If we had noticed the turquoise water, those greens and the red dirt
And we not hiked down, down, down to the water
Dayenu
If we had hiked down and climbed over the round grey rocks, right to the water’s edge
And had not gone swimming
Dayenu
If we dove into those turquoise and deep blue waves
And not built cairns when we were done swimming
Dayenu
If we had built the cairns
And had not hiked up, up, up and then dowwwwwn again, back to the car
Dayenu
If we had hiked up, up, up and then down-down-down, back to the car
And had not found the farmers market
Dayenu
If we had found the farmers market
And had not bought fresh ahi tuna, avocado and mangoes
Dayenu
If we had bought fresh ahi, avocado and mangoes at the farmers market
And had not cooked it together, all of us chopping and marinating and setting the table
Dayenu
If we had cooked the yummy dinner together, all of us helping
And had not taken a good hot bubbling bath
Dayenu
If we had taken a hot bath to soak our sore hiker legs
And had not had soft beds to sleep in
Dayenu
If we had soft beds to sleep in
And not had kisses on our foreheads
Dayenu
Thank you, thank you and thank you
For this day.
xxxx
© by April Halprin Wayland 2010 all rights reserved
Please leave a comment on TeachingAuthors.com (You can leave your comment after any of our posts…doesn’t matter if I am posting or someone else is. Just scroll down to the first place you can comment and send me encouragement!)
=================================================
The Original Poem-A-Day Challenge was started by Irene Latham…and is further energized by the amazing, energetic and inspired Laura Evans, of www.teachpoetryk-12.com. Check out Laura’slist of Poetry Month events! And here are answers to Frequently Asked Questions about National Poetry Month, such provocative questions as: What is National Poetry Month? Who started National Poetry Month? How can I obtain a copy of the National Poetry Month poster? And thirty ways to celebrate National Poetry Month (including, “write a poem in chalk on your sidewalk.”)
© April Halprin Wayland 2010 all rights reserved
Please leave a comment on TeachingAuthors.com (You can leave your comment after any of our posts…it doesn’t matter if I’ve posted or one of the five other authors has. Just scroll down to the first place you can comment–I’d love to hear your thoughts ~ )