Here I Stand

Free Verse (Here I Stand)

By Darby Sinel

I stand here, compared to the other girls around me.

we are similar in that we all wear our best makeup and most expensive clothes,

we are gilded like the best of gold, however, we are not the same at all.

I am here masquerading behind a veil of deception.

My body shakes with the shuddering rate of my racing heart

I am being judged, only based on my appearances

which is clear because no one here knows who I truly am.

As unlikely as it may seem, I am chosen.

I go to my new husband as a symbol of his wealth.

My new castle is vast; cavernous.

Every step I take echos through the great halls, an indelible imprint

Despite its great beauty, this castle will never be my home.

I jump if ever I hear my name--

They might have found out who I am,

Who my people are.

I gaze with longing fondness out at my old world.

There I lived, learned and loved.

It seems that where I live now is a dream, ephemeral,

Or perhaps a nightmare, smoky and amiss

I am not living my life; no, I am living someone else’s.

My spouse, the king, has put me, my people, in danger.

I pass the hours blanketed in impenetrable thought.

I need to fix this, but is it something that can be solved?

The king loves me...

he would never want his own ruling to be the cause of my death

Regardless of the outcome, I know I must shatter the illusion

My strength of character must overcome.

Contradiction

Contradiction

By Arianna Zarka

Imagine a cat that’s a dog and dog that’s a cat,

Or a cow that’s a sheep and a sheep that’s a rat.

A boy that’s a girl and a girl that’s a boy,

or my friend who’s dressed up as Helen of Troy.

Everything is reversed tonight,

You could catch a person dressed up as a kite.

Everything is twisted and spinning and upside down,

And you will see many little girls dressed as Queen Esther with a crown.

People are laughing and dancing and drinking and laughing even more,

And from all of the dancing, the next day your legs will probably be sore.

It is the one time that it’s permitted for men to dress as women and women as men,

And couples even dress up as Barbie and Ken!

It is a night full of fun and excitement and joy,

And if I wanted to, I could dress up as a boy!

Although the costumes and sweets are all very fun,

We can’t forget what happened with the Jews and Haman.

The Jews were the underdogs but then it reversed,

The Jews then had power over those who cursed.

It went from sorrow to gladness,

And there was no more sadness.

Who Am I?

Who Am I?

By Neda Shokrian

I can only remember growing up with my cousin.

All my life I knew that one thing was real.

I was meant to grow up a true Jewish life.

Who am I?

Why do I need to live this life?

Why should I have to alter everything I know and believe?

How can a simple girl like me save a nation?

Who am I?

I only try to be small and keep to myself in this insane world.

The big, fat king kills his wife and then what- he suddenly decides that he can take my life away from me?

I never wanted this.

Who am I?

I don’t want to be responsible for saving so many lives.

I can’t even begin to contemplate this huge change.

This isn’t the same Esther!

Who am I?

So what do I do now?

Am I to accept this new life?

Am I the new queen of Persia?

Who am I?

My life has been turned upside down.

I can never return to my old life.

Will they even recognize me?

Who am I?

I can’t fight the king.

I can’t change his mind.

I don’t have any say.

Who am I?

I will not give up.

I will not let this disruption determine my future.

I won’t let the king kill my people.

I know who I am.

I am here to save my nation.

I will be stronger than expected and become who I was meant to be.

I am Queen Esther.

I am the leader of the Jewish people.

I can live the life I was meant to live and save my people.

Then again, I am all a lie.

Will my beliefs be artificial as well?

Can I really do anything?

Who am I?

Wheel of Fortune

Wheel of Fortune

By Sherry Simkovic

Good and Evil in the world

As one rises the other falls

Throughout history and legend

Two constant governing bodies in our world

Megillat Esther

A story of the rise and fall of both good and evil

Good eventually prevails

But Evil has its moment too

Born an orphan

Living with her uncle

Her luck changes with a simple invitation

Come meet the king

It seems as though

All her troubles have ended

No more toiling

As one rises the other falls

The king’s advisor

Exemplifying evil

A maleficent plan

A turn of the wheel

Changes it all

A lottery chooses the date

The genocide will fall on

As one rises the other falls

A plea for help

Love conquers all

As the Jewish queen  asks the king for his help

In saving her people

As one rises the other falls

Goodness will prevail

As Evil falls

As the story comes to a close

It can be harder and harder

To pick out the white and the black

The good and the evil

From the shades of grey in between

But as we go about our lives

As we pick out the good along with the bad

Reversals occur

Things change

As one rises the other falls

Colors of Life

Colors of Life

By Sarah Silverstein

  

In his garden, in his home

Ahasuerus held a mighty throne—

Silver rods and turquoise wool

With vibrant colors, his life was full

Golden vessels and royal wine

Red and purple, the blood of the vine

From vibrant colors of his life

On a conquest for a wife

A princess, a queen to set his gaze upon

In ravishing reds, blues for all to fawn.

With a golden crown atop her head

Royal robes she wore to bed

Linens of deep purple and gold

Preserving the colors of life

For colors never get old.

The Ballad of Queen Esther

The Ballad of Queen Esther

By Rachel Dynkin

What will he do to me?

Will I live to see another day?

Will he execute me brutally?

Or will I get my way?

If I dare stumble in his chambers

Am I damned to imprisonment?

I can’t imagine all the dangers

That may seize me in my innocence

Will he banish me to a land

of loneliness and misery?

Will I be stranded in the sand

Of an island, bare and empty?

I pray to you my dear Hashem!

My guardian, my Lord!

My people, please protect them

From evil’s ruthless sword!

I need my people’s hope

We’re running out of time

There is no steeper slope

Than that which I must climb.

A Castaway

A Castaway

By Rebecca Rosen

I put on my dress, silk laden and light

Feathery to the touch, smooth as butter on my skin

The jewels sparkled in the setting sun

So perfect and pure,

Heavens gifts and to my good fortune I have received them

Drops of galaxy from a faraway place

Somewhere up there

I find myself wondering, is it worth it?

I love my precious jewels yes of course I do

But do I love him? Do I really love him?

This is love, because it must be.

I sit there, the velvet seat cushion like a cloud underneath

So soft so inviting.  But is this what happiness is?

A party? A dress? Jewels?

I am not an instrument,

Available to be played whenever is needed or desired.

I am me, I am strong I am independent.

I am done with this life I assure myself through a drunken stupor

And yet I feel that pang of longing and sorrow

Is this love anyway?

The constant reminder you aren’t good enough.

A crown isn’t worth this

All the jewels in the world aren’t worth this

And so I watch slowly around me

As I become the center of attention

Strewn from my home as quickly as you could say

“Let me stay…” but I didn’t mean it all.

I am saved

I am happy

I am finally alone.