| Joseph Friedlander, comp. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse. 1917. | | | | The Tongue | | By John D. Nussbaum |
| | | SAID Rabbi Simon to his son; | |
| “To market-place do quickly run | |
| Naphtali, my lusty lad, | |
| And buy the ‘best’ that can be had | |
| Of things to eat. I say the ‘best,’ | 5 |
| Put thou thy intellect to test!” | |
| |
| “A hind-let-loose,” was Naphtali, | |
| And quick to strike the bargain best. | |
| “Think ye, I bring a spicy tart, | |
| Or sweet-meats for our worthy guest?” | 10 |
| The youth replied, “if so ye’re wrong, | |
| I’ve bought a well-preserved tongue.” | |
| |
| “The tongue had neither fat nor bone, | |
| Is tender, sweet and toothsome; | |
| This the food that not alone | 15 |
| Humans eat, but also angels gladsome.” | |
| “Well done,” the rabbi said. “Now go | |
| My boy, and buy the ‘worst’ you know.” | |
| |
| Again the lad went out, and back | |
| He came with his bargain gruesome. | 20 |
| A goodly tongue he showed, the same, | |
| He first did say was wholesome. | |
| “How’s that, my son,” the father said, | |
| “Can one thing be both good and bad?” | |
| |
| “Yes, father,” said young Naphtali, | 25 |
| “In Holy Writ, in Book of Scriptures, | |
| Much wisdom and delight I’ve found, | |
| Thus saith the word of inspired song; | |
| Both life and death are in the tongue!” | | | | |
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