Sarah’s Schnooks
“Such a schlemiel Sarah’s seeing,” said Shamira.
“The sort who schleps in for supper at seven when he
was invited at six. Sorry-ass schmuck.”
Aunt Sophie, sporting the same schmatta she’s worn since
the seventies, sighs. “Never simple for Sarah. She
schooled at City and now seems to savor those
simpletons and shegetzes. Shitheads who schmooze
soup to shtup!” She giggles. “And sure, I know from
shtupping, don’t look so surprised.”
Shamira, stirring soup (matzoh balls soft as satin),
says, “Stanley should have stepped up seven years ago.
Sarah could do worse than the cantor of our shul.”
Sophie smiles. “Sarah with Stanley? Sterling cantor,
but that schnozz! And I suspect he’s a snore in the sack.
He schpritzes during prayers and his spiel is too slick.
If Sarah doesn’t size them up,” she snickers, “there’s always
Sylvie the yenta!”
© 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For ABC Wednesday, brought to you by the letter S and the extensive Yiddish I learned in my youth. Always fascinated with Jewish culture, my daughter’s father is Jewish. Consult Wiki for words you don’t know! Also at Poets United, my poetic home. Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
beespoetry
Yiddish is great. I agree- Jewish culture is fascinating. My grandfather busts out some of the language from time to time, particularly near Rosh Hashanah and the high holy days.
Good to see you posting again!
Love, Bee
Sharp Little Pencil
L’chaim! Shalom! Matzoh all around!
It’s cute about your Opa, and yes, my former husband’s mom and dad sort of dragged out the Yiddish like it was part of the kosher silverware. Very endearing.
Good to be (bee) posting again! Love you back, Amy
beespoetry
MMM oh my dear sweet world, I love matzoh ball soup. I think if all us goys learned to make it like our sweet Bubbes used to do, the world would be a better place. But I really shouldn’t kvetch about it. 😀
Sharp Little Pencil
Nor qvell.
Tilly Bud
Trying to say this out loud, I sprayed my monitor with saliva 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Hey, let’s do it like Sylvester the cat. That would be a spitfest!!! Thanks, Linda, you made me laugh so hard! Amy
vivinfrance
Your esses are hilarious.
Sharp Little Pencil
My ass ain’t bad, either, LOL. Thanks, Viv!
Debbie
You have me learning here again! 🙂 You come up with such great narrative poems. Thank you!
Sharp Little Pencil
Debbie, my daughter’s dad is Jewish and when we were married, I already knew more Yiddish than he did!! And the “S” prompt was ripe, because of all the semi-naughty words you can sneak in. Thanks, hon, Amy
pamelasayers
Oy Vey! Amy, I felt like I was back in New York at some of my Jewish friends’ dinner tables. Thanks for the laugh 🙂 Mashugga is one of my favourites, love the sound of it.
Pamela
Sharp Little Pencil
Pamela, that’s one of my faves, too. Also schlemiel. It’s so… onomatopoeic!
Roger Green
Oy! I have quite a few Jewish relatives, and when I work a Yiddish term into conversation, it’s sometimes perceived as affectation.
Sharp Little Pencil
Never had that problem with my former husband’s family, generally. Except my mother in law, who survived Auschwitz and didn’t like the fact that her son had married a schikza! Can’t say as I ever blamed her…
Madeleine Begun Kane
LOL Good job with the Yiddish. It’s such a delightfully comical language. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks. My daughter’s dad is Jewish, but I always knew more Yiddish than he did. I think it’s from growing up around old vaudevillians. Amy
miskmask
So many of those words are familiar. Funny how foreign words can slip into a mainstream language (namely English in this case) and become slang within it. Very entertaining, Amy!
Here’s my Stab at the S-prompt. http://miskmask.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/surprising-shapes/
Sharp Little Pencil
Knowing a little Yiddish can get you a long way in this world! I’m coming over right now, and thanks! Amy