I gathered reeds from the bank of the Nile
and wove him a basket. A casket. No, it was a basket.
I cushioned the bottom with woolen blankets
and myrrh. You must know- I wanted my baby’s
resting place to be comfortable. I set the basket
in the water just off the shore. The Nile cradled him
in its gentle, lapping current. I couldn’t let go.
Miriam crouched down, ankle deep. She stroked my
baby’s cheek and he cooed. It’s time, Mother. My tears salted
the fresh running water. There’s only so much one can do
in this world. My fingers loosened their grip, and the basket-
it drifted. Aaron held onto my skirt, Miriam held onto
my hand. I sent them away. Follow him. They walked
along the shore, disappearing under the tall,
ruthless reeds. I stood alone on the bank of the Nile.
No mother should have to give up her child. It’s a pain
unlike any I’ve ever felt before. And you should know,
I’ve been through pain. I grew up in Egypt, a slave,
labored in the fields under the blistering semitic sun,
watched my husband stoop under the burden of days.
Three times I gave birth. I thought nothing could be
worse than that pain. I was wrong. Bearing children
is unbearable; giving them up is beyond. Do you know,
I didn’t even give him a name. My baby. Otherwise,
I could never have sent him away. He would have been
killed if I hadn’t. You know that. You know I’m not
to blame. And it worked out in the end- right? The story
is already written. But it leaves out my pain.
And you should know. We mothers are so helpless.
We bear these bodies, and then, nothing.
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5 comments:
Didn't shevet Levi get a free pass from working? Amram's back probably wans't all that stiff.
technicality.
(besides, there are enough loopholes to make it word.)
what abt the rest of the poem?
I don't understand enough poetry structure to comment. i like the tamar one better.
Ive been tossing around the idea of doing a biblical story based upon the Valley of the Bones prophecy in Yechezkel - my freind has a very interesting theory that the leader of shevet Ephraim (decimated by the pelishtim after leaving egypy 30 years too early) was actualy Nun, Yehoshua's father. I'm just really struggling with the tone of the story.
that sounds really interesting. what tone are you going for?
Well I started writnig it more biblically - you know, Yechezkel meets JRR Tolkein - but then I relaized that saying things like Yechezkel travelled ever further southwards sounds horrible if no one named "Gollum" or "Sauron" is involved.
And so, like everythign else I've tried to write recently, it's been shelved. Which is sad cause it's a very interesting story.
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