Marriage in Mogador – Poem
Marriage in Mogador – Poem
Good folk, listen to me
Incline your ears and you will see
How, oh you who are wise,
We, in Mogador, A marriage solemnized.
A marriage in Mogador, yes,
It was something marvelous!
What am I saying? It was a work of great art…
In which, through these words, I will let you take part.
So, my friends follow me
These things not occurring naturally,
Know that,
Complicated though it may have been It was truly of great simplicity.
How did the bonds come to be tied?
How came the two to stand
Before the Rabbi?
Through a matchmaker? No!
What then could it be?
A meeting? A letter? A reverie?
But not at all!
It happened this way :
On Yom Kippur Day
Walking slowly, between two prayers,
Our young men would step out for air
In the Mellah or Medina1. And who met them there
With graceful little steps?
Our young girls, of course
All slender of waist,
Barely painted of face,
And all in white their dress.
Then,
The boys dared a glance.
And the girls?
They batted their lashes
And looked in turn.
Their eyes met
Blush rosied her face
The bashful young man
Stood petrified in place.
And at Sukkot, my friends,
The parents of the young girl
Received a visit
From an emissary
Who declared quite openly :
"I have been sent by Mr. ׳X'
Give to him your daughter so lovely!"
Then,
If before they made reply
They served him a drink
And some food besides,
He understood them by this, to voice :
"Go find another
This boy is not our choice."
But,
If before serving him,
They spoke, and discussed
On and on, without end, Then, my friends,
This indicated
That they found the boy worthy
Of being accepted,
And that they were ready, from the very next day,
To grant him their daughter's hand.
This, you see,
We learn
From the sages,
Who must be followed in all cases.
Took at the biblical precedent
When to Rivka's kin Eliezer went!
The proposal accepted
The days are counted.
One meeting, then another ensues :
"Here are our terms,
What are yours?
Where and when?
Who will for the wedding provide?
And the house, on what floor
Will they reside?
And, tell me, what will be brought
As a Sora by the bride?"