Here are four more Hanukah poems I’ve shared with my fam each night over zoom just for fun. If you’ve ever wondered “How does one even spell Hanukah???” or “WHY does one spell Chanukah — so many different ways???” - NIGHT 3’s poem is for you. Enjoy!
NIGHT 1: When is Chanukah?
NIGHT 2: Hanukahku
NIGHT 3: Multitudes
NIGHT 4: A Holiday Song Sonnet
NIGHT 5: Efficient energy renewing acrostic
NIGHT 2: Hanukahku
A series of linked haiku via tweets:
NIGHT 3: Multitudes
"I too contain multitudes" Chanukah
Says with eyeroll attitude like, lol what, duh!
Describing different names and moods while you just nod, uh huh
At peak sunset “I have as many names as Home”
Hanukkah speaks on it, letting it be known
You recall one way to put it, and I have my own
The multitudes of ways to spell the same thing we say
Hannukah, OH Chanukah, O Hanuka, on this third day
The holiday phenomena lighting up the world, per se
What's in a name? Chanukah
What if I'm made out of clay? Hanukah
I’m the problem, ain’t I? Hannukah
Spell me twenty-four different ways
As if there were one or even just a few words for the run-on singularly impossible-to-convey
Multiplicities of Hanuka that itself is not singular but multiplied into a dedication of eight days
Like that time I asked Twitter, they said
Make of that what you will
Including today, tomorrow, yesterday, too
Hankuah’s dyin' like all things do
Follow the story over the name, renewable-lit legacy
The way we’ll lose our way if we don't do this equitably
Of faith abiding, rebellious resistance, against old divisive feuds
I too contain multitudes.
NIGHT 4: A Holiday Song Sonnet
Why do we lack mainstream Hanukah songs?
I mean, why when I go outside, it’s all -
Bells jingling, Santas ho-ing, Christ’s gongs
The entire month’s a christmas catcall
When there’re many other holidays here
Wintertime’s replete with bright occasions
For so many others, different lights, cheer
Different druthers, different persuasions
But with Chanukah, each night some prayers
Nights, days, last I counted eight is more
Gifts, games, songs, friends, fam, dancing candle flares
So don't just ask for but create more.
Where we don't hear Chanukah songs outside
Listen for Chanukah's spirit inside.
NIGHT 5: Efficient energy renewing acrostic
Can you tell me a story
Heard any current Chanukah tales?
About anything encouraging?
New insights from any old details -
Understand me how storied journeys connect to ours
Know what we carry from then to now though the telling
About sources of efficient energy renewing through wars
How faith in the future, community, and care could be swelling
— Adam Powers