My father's father fled Poland A land of fear and misery for Jews Came to America Where the streets were “paved with gold” Wanted that American magic As fast as he could get it No Yiddish was spoken in his home! My mother's parents spoke Yiddish in their home She and her sister grew up fluent in it She and my father met after his return from the war And married soon after When my mother and aunt Didn't want anyone to know what they were up to They spoke Yiddish Before my mother died She declared "Once I'm gone you will never hear Another Yiddish word" Not quite true: so many Yiddish words Have been adopted into English But I'm far from fluent |