National Poetry Month—Patrick Murfin "Brief Haggadah for Passover/Good Friday"

You knew I had to get around to that extremely minor Midwest poet, Patrick Murfin sooner or later.  So it was sooner. 

I will be appearing at tonight’s program at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry, Social Gospel in Words and Music. The music will be provided by Memphis based bluesman Andy Cohen.

We scheduled this event around Andy’s availability while touring.  Turned out he was free tonight.  And tonight turned out to be both the first night of Passover and Good Friday.  It seemed like a good idea to note that fact, especially since we will be performing in a Church.

So I whipped up a new poem for the occasion. 

Brief Haggadah for Passover/Good Friday

For Social Gospel in Words and Music

April 6, 2012

The child always asks…

            What makes this night different

            from all other nights?

You have to think hard.

Somewhere children are always

being massacred for some

accident of birth

            or for mere convenience sake.

Somewhere slaves are plotting their escape

            and Pharaohs hitch their war chariots

            to pursue them. 

Somewhere fools dance

            and lay fronds before the path

            of a maybe Messiah on an ass.

What makes this night different?

            Nothing, son, except that

            you asked the right question.

            Now, what are we going

            to do about it?

—Patrick Murfin