The Old Man and the Boy

By Shifra Shomron
15 Iyar 5766/ 14th of May 2006
Nitzan Caravilla site
(19 years old)

A parody of "The Walrus and the Carpenter" from Alice in Wonderland.

The sun was shining on the Wall,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The big stones strong and bright ?
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.

The Wall was old as old could be,
The hills were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No doves were flying overhead ?
There were no doves to fly.

The Old Man and the Boy
Were walking close at hand:
They wept like anything to see
The Arabs in the land:
'If they were only moved away,'
They said, 'it would be grand!'

'If seven planes and seven ships
Moved them for half a year,
Do you suppose,' the Boy said,
We would still know fear?'
'I doubt it,' said the Old Man,
And shed a happy tear.

'The time has come,' the Old Man said,
'To talk of many things:
Of foes ? and woes ? and destroyed homes ?
Of redemption ? and kings ?
And why the leadership is bad ?
And how the Levites sing.

'O Jews, come and walk with us!'
The Old Man did call.
'An urgent walk, an urgent talk,
Along the ancient Wall:
We cannot do it by ourselves;
I'm old and he is small.'

Then many Jews looked at him,
But never a word they said:
They slowly closed their eyes,
And shook their weary heads ?
Meaning to say they did not choose
To leave their comfy beds.

But some young Jews hurried up,
All eager for the feat:
Their peyot were long, their faith was strong,
They danced to the beat ?
And this was odd, because, you know,
They faced the burning heat.

Some more Jews followed them,
And yet another four,
And quick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more ?
To rebuild the Temple behind the Wall,
The prophecy of yore.