The Penultimate Day

A Prompted Poem about Friday

the week comes to an end everyone prepares

last minute shopping floods the market rushing and running

the smells of the city transform fresh bread and stew consume the air

a final explosion of activity when the sun sets, so does the city

night comes, bringing light and song blessings, candles, and celebration lift the city

a day of rest has arrived bringing about new beginnings

This short poem was written about my experience seeing the weekly preparation for the Sabbath when I was in Jerusalem. As Friday comes, the environment shifts. You can literally smell the holiday as all the homes seem to be baking (or bringing home) fresh challah, and slow-cooking a pot of cholent. It’s a beautiful and powerful thing to see an entire community sharing all the aspects of the day together. Unique but similar meals in every home. Different people, different voices, all singing the same joyous songs. It’s truly marvelous.

Thanks to Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她) for her prompt on Friday. If you want to join in on the fun, you can check it out here:

Adam Deitsch is an environmental scientist and climate speaker. He writes on various topics including science, policy, and life in general. For more poetry from the author, try this:

For longer, science-y pieces, try these: