Don't ask me to share, I am simply not able to,
I'm finding my things to stick my green label to."
"I can do just the same, wait and see," Yossi said.
"From now on, my stuff will be labeled in red."
And the two of them sat down to work right away,
Cutting and pasting the rest of the day.
They labeled each pencil, each coin in their bank,
Their posters and flashlights, the dish in their tank...
...their albums with pictures, their albums with stamps,
The microscope, mirror, and two football lamps.
Keychains and games, boots and books on the table,
Each wearing a green or a little red label.
Their clocks, walkie-talkies, and all their toy cars,
Their wastebaskets, puzzles, and chocolate bars.
Lumps of modeling clay and all their old teeth,
Each one with a label stuck underneath.
Then they stopped - there was simply no room anymore,
For that bedroom was covered from ceiling to floor
With what looked like a blizzard of green and snow
Meant to warn everyone so that they would all know
Just whose stuff was whose, and whose it was not,
Which one had a little, which one had a lot,
No sharing, no mixing, and no friendly games -
Just two boys, their stuff, and a roomful of names!
Then tired and hungry, both Yossi and Laibel
Stomped down to eat at the dining room table.
But look! What was this? What a sight met their eyes!
They gasped, and their jaws opened wide in surprise.
Everything in the kitchen, the dining room too,
Had been claimed by their mother and labeled in blue.
Then dinner was served and it really smelled great,
But their mother sat down with just her own plate!
She said, "Every night I share all of the food,
But somehow, tonight I'm just not in the mood!"
So the boys only watched as their mom drank and ate,
Till she'd finished her juice and the meat on her plate.
"See you later," she smiled and wint to wash up
Her labeled knife, spoon, fork, pot, napkin, and cup.
Just then came a honk and a shout from outside,
"Father's home!" said the boys, "let's go take a long ride!"
"Sorry, kids," said their dad, "but you know this car's mine,
I marked it myself with a big yellow sign
I've got more labels here for my driveway, my clothes,
My reclining chair, slippers, and new garden hose.
My briefcase, shoe polish, my tools and umbrella-
From now on they'll be clearly labeled in yella."
Yossi and Laibel just looked at eachother -
Hard to say which one was the unhappier brother.
"No food and no rides," Yossi said, "what a day,
And the driveway's off limits, so where will we play?"
Laibel was thinking. He looked at the ground.
Then he ran to his room without making a sound.
And as carefully as he had puton each label
Pulled them off just as quickly as he was able.
Yossi joined in, and the cleanup was done.
When Laibel's last label, a little green one,
Missed the trash can and floated right on to his bed
"Leave it there, little brother," is what Laibel said.
"That label's for Laibel to remind me it's true
That sharing is something all families must do!"
To purchase this book contact:
your Local Judaica Store, or
The Tzivos Hashem Bookstore
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