WALKING

Max and God walked home from work some nights

Talking about their jobs -- they were in the garment trade –

And my grandmother Esther, a mystery to them both.

The walk was long --12 miles or more from 39^th Street

To Snediker Avenue. Two dogs walked with them

Until they crossed Grant Street. A block or so later

A grey and white cat would appear and pretend

He just happened to be going the same way.

Max had gradually stopped being a believer

But never said so, lest he hurt God's feelings.

THE EMPEROR COMES TO SNEDIKER AVENUE

My grandfather Max disliked emperors
On principle. Still, if Franz Joseph
Suddenly appeared on Snediker Avenue,
Running for his life from his enemies,
Max would surely offer him shelter.
He might -- but only might -- tell his wife
That the Emperor was in their kitchen
Eating a large apple. It's possible
Max would think it better to let Esther
Find the Emperor herself  rather
Than having a discussion on how unlikely
A man so old and habit-bound
Had slipped off his throne and turned up,
Hapsburg jaw and all, in Brooklyn.

A BIT OF FAMILY HISTORY

My grandfather Max was quite religious
Until he got married, my aunts tell me.
My grandmother, though, had her doubts.
At some point her doubts apparently decided.
They actually liked him very much better
And began following him about everywhere.
At the very height of the busy season
Max would have to work almost without stop
He and the other tailors would snatch brief naps
On the long cutting tables.  While he slept
His wife's doubts purred quietly on his chest.
Deserted by her doubts, Esther, my grandmother,
Bitterly decided to keep the most kosher kitchen
On all of Snediker Avenue. It got to the point
That rabbis sometimes called to consult her
On abstruse points of dietary law.