Christmas Fishes

On Christmas, many people eat

The feast of seven fishes,

With salted cod and smelts and eel

Among the many dishes.

 

There also might be shrimp and calamari,

Clams and mussels,

Prepared by Mom or Nonna

Who, for hours, sweats and bustles.

 

But as a Jew, I might partake

Of fishes of my own,

The kind that every New York

Bagel lover’s ever known –

 

There’s sturgeon, whitefish, sable,

Plus baked salmon and some Nova

And belly lox, depending on

The people coming ovah.

 

To make it seven, you could add

Some herring made with wine

Or cream sauce, or some mackerel;

They all would work out fine.

 

No matter what your fishes are,

To those who celebrate,

Have a very Merry Christmas day

And Gey Gezunteheyt!* (pronounced Gay Guzzinta Hayt)

 

*Go in good health (in Yiddish)