TOURISM IN JERUSALEM
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In Jerusalem, a tourist waited
At a bus stop on Jaffa Street,
When out of the blue Bus 613 pulled up.
“Do you go to the Museum?” he asked.
“No, to the ocean of Israel.”
“How much does it cost to get there?”
“Eighteen shekels,” answered the driver.
“I don’t have shekels, I have dollars.”
“Sorry, only shekels.”
“How about pounds, I have pounds, euros, yen.”
“Only shekels,” replied the driver
And added, as he closed the door,
“It’s a shame, this is the only bus
That goes there.”
The tourist watched
As the bus began to grow wings,
Began to rise
And fly
Above the street, above the buildings,
Above the hills of Jerusalem, above the clouds,
And flew on
To the other side of the moon,
Where the ocean of Israel ebbs and flows,
Pulled by Jerusalem’s tides.
When you next visit Jerusalem,
Be sure to bring
Eighteen shekels
And a bathing suit.
YAKOV AZRIEL was born in the United States and emigrated to Israel after receiving a B.A. in English literature from Brooklyn College, and subsequently a Ph.D. in Jewish literature. In 2005 his first book of poems, Threads from a Coat of Many Colors, appeared from Time Being Books.
