I remember Rosh Hashanah
and our family gathered
around the dining room table

where we sang the blessings
and expressed gratitude
for the fruit of our lives

as we dipped
the round red world of apples
into the sweet viscosity of honey

which slowly embraced the slices
we held in our small hands before
we savored the crispy, earthy tastes.

How I loved the ritual,
the prayers for the new year,
for sweetness covering the world

like mother’s soft voice
as she circled the table,
paused before us, each one

and, like the sun, blessed us
with a kiss saying la shana tova,
la shana tova over and over again.

Michael S. Glaser is a Professor Emeritus at St. Mary’s College of Maryland where he received the Dodge Endowed Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has edited three anthologies of poetry, published eight volumes of his own work, most recently his award winning The Threshold of Light (Bright Hill Press). Glaser served as Poet Laureate of Maryland from 2004 through 2009 and co-edited with Kevin Young the Complete Poems of Lucille Clifton. More at www.michaelsglaser.com