party time

the Book of Esther plays out in Galut
its stature in the canon's surely odd
from top to bottom, right down to the root
the Purim story does not mention God
what moved the Rabbis to include this text
while other languish as "apocrypha"
a Baccanal of slaughter, drink, and sex
seems awkward next to sefer Vayikra
a carnival as Winter yields to Spring
to turn rules of decorum upside-down
a day to mock a boss, a prince, a king
and neutralize old acids as we clown
a blow-out celebrates the year's last moon
 with pastries  we'll abjure for Pesach soon