Glorious Memories Poem by Charles Chaim Wax

Sitting in Moe Fine’s
Ice Cream Emporium
on Flatbush Avenue
after Hannah McGill’s funeral
I said, “So many teachers passed away
the last nineteen years...not the same.”
“Remember Vinnie Weed? ” asked Henry F
“Funny guy
hadn’t thought of him in awhile.”
“Never forget, never
all the years
he wore that cheap mat on his head
and nobody said a word
everyone knew
not a word.”
“Mabel Figgnat, ” I sighed.
“Lord, yes
recall when she almost
crushed me to a pancake
after she slipped on the applesauce
and landed on me? ”
“Thought you was a goner for sure
only thirty-three
when she passed
think she wanted to kill herself
after her husband passed away
eating two dozen jelly donuts a day
with a heart condition.”
“NEVER THINK SUCH A THOUGHT
ABOUT MABEL, ” thundered Henry F.
I quickly said,
“Jacob Friedman.”
“His wife a shrink
but didn’t do him much good
man talked
but never made sense. What a guy! ”
“Huh? ”
“Don’t you see, Bernstein? His cuckooness
added to the flavor
of the stew.”
“Sam Greenbaum, ” I sighed;
“THE LAST HIPPIE, ” exploded Henry F,
“wish he was back with us
always had a joke to tell.”
“Matilda Frisby, ” I blurted out.
“And Mary Eato, ” chuckled Henry F.
“No more
no more names
my heart hurts.”
“God is good, ” said Henry F.
“You’re an atheist
how many times you said
God and Hitler
could never exist in the same Universe.”
“Not today when
a dear friend
journeys into the Great Beyond.”
“The Almighty don’t allow
a part-time believer.”
“You can’t figure out what God thinks
nobody has such understanding
else they’d be wise as Him
and there ain’t not a person on Earth like that
yes, my friend,
all the departed souls are up there,
looking at us
hearing what we say
a great comfort it is.”
“You’ve been an atheist for nineteen years! ”
“Not today!
Today I know in my heart
the whole of Creation
moves toward
the Perfection of Heaven.”