The Right Thing

He told me of the conversation
He had with his young employee
Who, once too wild, had now
Settled into the job successfully
Doing well, earning well.

The relative youngin’ was seeing
Again an old high school flame
Who announced, a number of months
Into the reunion, that she would keep
The baby, and as a woman of faith,

Could not, would not, consider the
Commonplace alternatives.  Thus
Maturity, raising its hoary head, 
Led the youngish man to agree to
Do, as they both understood it,

The right thing.  But he wondered to my
Friend, his boss, if this was, on her part,
Simply instrumental, a key to a well
Appointed house, a path to effortless
Financial security.

And how, my friend asked, do you
Consider the baby now brewing?
He answered:
Not intended,
Not planned,
But not unwanted.

The wedding will take place next weekend.
May they share a long life together,
Blessed and joyful,
Always striving to do 
The right thing.

Shavout, in one of its mystical incarnations, celebrates the “marriage” of G-d and Israel. May Israel do the right thing too….