EXODUS CHAPTER 11 ~ 15

EXODUS 11

1 And YHWH said to Moses, "I'll bring
Yet one more plague on Pharaoh king
Of Egypt. Afterward he will
Let you go from here Semophile.
When he lets you go, he'll surely
Drive you from here most earnestly.
2 "Speak now in hearing of the folk,
Let every man ask from the bloke
Next door, and every woman from
Her neighbour, articles in sum
Of silver and vessels of gold."
3 And YHWH gave the people a hold
On the Egyptians, and the man
Moses was great as any can
Be in the land of Egypt, in
The sight of Pharaoh's servants' kin
And in the sight of all the folk.
4 And then Moses stood up and spoke,
"Thus says YHWH 'About midnight I
Will tread upon Egyptian sky,
5 'And all the firstborn in the land
Of Egypt shall die by My hand,
From the firstborn of Pharaoh who
Sits on his throne, and even to
The firstborn of the maid behind
The handmill, and also in kind
All the firstborn of every beast.
6 'Then there shall be a great cry triste
Throughout all Egypt's land, such as
Was not like it before, nor has
Nor shall be like ever again.

There is just one response to threat of death
That governor and guard pass in one breath,
And that is that You come down with a sword
And slay the usurper and the adored.
Prohibited is killing to the free,
And so we cry for justice fervidly
At Your hand, O Beloved, from slavery.
Slay, slay oppressor and oppressor's son
Until the massacre of fate is done,
And the impoverished at last have won.
But give us no more revolution where
The anarchist's against the wall first flair.
Slay the oppressor in my heart as well,
And let the sceptres lie forlorn that fell.

7 'But against none of Israel's men
Shall even dog move its tongue then,
Against man or against beast, that
You may know that YHWH makes a flat
Distinction between Egyptians
And Israel.' 8 "These manikins,
All your servants shall come down to
Me and bow down to me, and sue,
'Get out, and all the people who
Follow you!' After that I'll go."
Then he went out from the Pharaoh
In great anger. 9 But YHWH said to
Moses, "Pharaoh will not heed you,
So that My wonders may be great,
Many on the Egyptian state."
10 So Moses and Aaron did all
These wonders in the Pharaoh's hall,
And YHWH hardened the Pharaoh's heart
Not to let Israel depart.

The people say that's why the dogs may eat
Of every unclean and unslaughtered meat,
As a reward that when the silent feet
Of Israel trod secretly the street
Out of Egypt, no dog raised warning cry
To hear the rabble softly passing by.
The meek Moses was known for showing rage
Against the ruling class and governage,
But to the beast from dog to gliding bat
He was for kindness an aristocrat.
I too am such a dog and sometimes bark
To hear You pass, Beloved, beneath the dark,
And so I chew the unclean bones in bliss,
Despised by priest and mullah for Your kiss.

EXODUS 12

1 YHWH told Moses and Aaron in
The land of Egypt, said herein,
2 "This month your first of months shall be,
The year's first month eternally.
3 "Tell all the congregation of
Israel, saying 'On the tenth of
This month each man shall take a lamb
For himself, according to dam
And father's house, for each household.
4 'And if the household in its mould
Is too small for the lamb, let him
And his neighbour next to his limb
Take it according to the number
Of persons that in each house slumber,
According to each man's need you
Shall make your count for the lamb's due.

Your feast is for the family, not church,
And even those alone, not left in lurch,
May join the score around the sacrifice,
The family and neighbour that is nice.
Though the feast may be made and once again
In memory of Israel and when
The people went out from the scarred up land
Of Egypt, it goes back to Abram's hand
On Mount Moriah, and to Noah's ark
Who counted months, and even to the park
Of the two sacred trees. First month of years
Goes back beyond all human days and fears
To You, Beloved, Creator and earth's King,
Where prayer for sacrifice bows and takes wing.

5 'Your lamb shall be without a fault,
A male of the first year assault.
You may take it among the sheep
Or from the goats you have to keep.
6 'Until the fourteenth day keep it
Of the same month and keep it fit.
Then the assembly of the whole
Of Israel's folk in their patrol
Shall kill it between lowering night.
7 'And they shall take there in their sight
Some of the blood and put it on
The two doorposts and put it on
The lintel of the houses where
They eat the lamb without despair.

What You provide, Beloved, in way of lamb
Is without fault, that feeds the one I am
As years turn on in grace and sacrifice.
I lay the blood to place and time precise,
Between the lowerings of the day and night.
I kiss the doorposts with my blood in sight
And come into the dergah where my death
Is placed above the whirl of time and breath,
Around the posts that gather my prostrations
As I go whirling all around the stations.
And still the doorposts glimmer glory seen
With every kiss of dervish in between.
Beloved, the whisper of the treading feet
Goes on past dreams, past every judgement-seat.

8 'Then they shall eat the flesh on that
Night, roasted in fire, with a pat
Of bread unleavened and with bitter
Herbs they shall eat it as befitter.
9 'Don't eat it raw, nor boiled at all
With water, but roasted withal
In fire, its head and with its legs
And its entrails and as it begs.
10 'You shall let none of it remain
Until morning, but yet what grain
Of it is left till morning, burn.
11 'And eat it then and do not spurn:
With a belt on your waist, on feet
Your sandals, and your staff in hand.
So you in haste the lamb shall eat,
It is YHWH's Passover command.
12 'For I will pass throughout the land
Of Egypt on that night, to strike
All the firstborn in Egypt's land,
Both man and beast, and all the like,
Against all the gods of Egypt
I'll execute judgement by script:
For I am YHWH and well-equipped.

What You provide, Beloved, I shall not save.
Though grain may be in store, it is a slave
Who works beyond his daily, weekly need
Except to keep in faith the goodly seed.
What You provide in meat to feed my soul
From breath to breath as I sit on the goal,
I shall not save, but only taste the sweet
You have in store to grant me for a treat.
Let government and culture wing across
A failing sky and blossom to their loss.
The first-born of establishment must die
From wounds inherent in the heart and lie.
I eat the lamb and lick the bone unbroken
Behind closed doors and behind closed doors' token.

13 'The blood shall be a sign for you
On the houses where you are true.
And when I see the blood, I'll pass
Over you and over the grass,
And the plague shall not be on you
To destroy when I give the cue
To strike the land of Egypt's mass.
14 'This day shall be to you a sign,
Memorial of memory's shrine,
And you shall keep it as a feast
To YHWH through your lifetimes unceased.
You'll keep this feast by law forever.
15 'Seven days you shall take to sever
The leaven from the bread you eat.
On the first day remove the leaven
From your houses. From then till seven
Days whoever eats leavened treat
Shall be cut off from Israel's feet.

Beware Egyptians' leaven and regard
No pseudo-scientific words that guard
Behind a shield of benign sophistry
Idolatrous oppression of the free.
The people had not heard Your lovely voice
Reciting ten things on the mount for choice,
And so like Jesus' old disciples had
To hear a warning of the good and bad,
Avoid the leaven, yea, avoid it well,
Turn back, spit over shoulder, cast a spell.
The specious doctrine comes in clandestine
And has to be swept out with dust and brine.
Let me, Beloved, hold to Your Self alone
And eat no leaven and bow not to stone.

16 'On the first day a convocation
Shall be set off for the whole nation,
And on the seventh day again
A holy convocation then.
No work at all shall be done then,
Except the necessary thing
That all may eat, no suffering.
17 'So you shall observe then the feast
Of unleavened bread (without yeast),
For on this same day I'll have brought
Your armies out of Egypt's plot.
Therefore you shall observe this day
Throughout your generations' way
As everlasting ordinance.
18 'In the first month, upon advance
Of the fourteenth day and at eve,
You shall eat unleavened to shrieve,
Until the twenty-first day come
In that month and at eve by drum.
19 'For seven days no leaven shall
Be found within your portical,
Since who eats what is leavened, that
Same person shall be cut off at
The congregation of Israel,
Whether a stranger clientele
Or native of the land and well.
20 'You shall eat nothing leavened, in
All your dwellings, but hold it sin,
You shall eat unleavened bread till
The twenty-first day to your fill.'"

The leaven of the Pharisees must not
Be eaten even by the stranger taught.
False doctrine permeates the dough and makes
A sour of sweet for its unholy sakes.
But who shall pluck the heathen teaching out
And tell the world the virtue of the doubt?
By meditation long and sweet of law
At last I find myself, Beloved, in awe
Of You and of Your flashing word and power.
Such things are not accomplished in an hour
For even those who seek the Truth and marrow.
The mass of men are comfortable and narrow.
Beloved, the leaven spreads on every hand
Despite the sullen sadness of command.

21 And Moses summoned all the elders
Of Israel, farmers, smiths or welders,
And said to them, "Pick out and take
Lambs for yourselves and for the sake
Of your families, and slay Passover.
22 "And you shall take a bunch like clover
Of hyssop, dip it in the blood
That's in the basin like a flood,
And strike the lintel and two posts
Of the door with the blood that boasts
In the basin. And none of you
Shall go out of the door in view
Of his house until morning sun.
23 "For YHWH will pass through on the run
To strike Egyptian first-born son,
And when He sees the blood upon
The lintel and doorposts till dawn,
Then YHWH will pass over the door
And not allow destroyer more
To come into your houses then
To strike your sons both small and men.
24 "And you shall observe this thing as
An ordinance for you that has
Been given to you and sons forever.
25 "It will happen when you endeavour
To come to the land which YHWH'll give
You, just as He promised, to live,
That you shall always keep this feast.
26 "And it shall be, that when your least
Children say to you, 'Now what do
You mean by this service?' 27 "that you
Shall say 'It is the sacrifice
Of Passover since in a trice
YHWH passed over the houses of
The children of Israel above
In Egypt when He struck them cold,
Egyptians and saved our household.'"
So the people bowed down their heads
And worshipped. 28 Then, aside their dreads,
The children of Israel went out
And did just as YHWH without doubt
Commanded Moses and Aaron,
So they did before day had gone.

Your presence, my Beloved, must strike all dead
Who live on earth and take it into head
To be persons with I-nesses and free,
For only one can be divine Creator
Of fountains, earth, and the depths of the sea.
Pass over the stone chamber that is traitor
To being as I set myself to see
The multitude of gods in industry.
Pass over the stone chamber of my heart
And leave the soul prostrated from the start.
I have no will at all but Your's be done
And in that abnegation life is won.
Beloved, pass over now my blood-stained door
Closed tight against the pounding midnight shore.

29 And it happened at midnight that
YHWH struck all firstborn where they sat
In Egypt's land, from the firstborn
Of the Pharaoh who sat forlorn
On his throne unto the firstborn
Of the captive who was in dungeon,
Of all livestock, even Melungeon.
30 So Pharaoh rose up in the night,
He, all his servants, in their plight
And all Egyptians, and there was
A great cry in Egypt, there was
Not a house where lay not one dead.
31 Then he called for Moses and said,
And Aaron in the night, "Rise, go
Out from among my people, go
Both you and Israel's folk. And go,
Serve YHWH as you have said. 32 "Also
Take your flocks and your herds, as you
Have said, be gone, bless me also."
33 And the Egyptians and their crew
Urged the people, that they might send
Them out of the land hastily.
For they said "We're all at an end."
34 So the people took their dough free
Before it was leavened, having
Their kneading bowls bound up with string
In their clothes on their shoulders. 35 Now
The children of Israel somehow
Had done as Moses said, and they
Had asked Egyptians on the way
For articles of silver and
Things of gold, clothing second-hand.
36 And YHWH had given the people favour,
In sight of the Egyptians’ waver,
So that they gave them what they asked,
Plundered the Egyptians unmasked.

Great is Your mercy, my Beloved, when You
Strike with death all the firstborn of the few!
You only strike a token god or two
And leave the pantheon to greet the dew.
In justice You might strike all who draw breath
To live and set up idols ruling death.
Not horror that the innocent are taught
For Pharaoh's fleeing the divine love-knot,
But wonder fills my heart at Your restraint
To leave the multitude to live complaint
Of plundering their silver and their gold.
Strike my heart idol, leave me dead and cold,
Or plunder the wealth of my self too bold,
But let me not live, My Beloved, a saint.

37 Then the children of Israel travelled
From Rameses to Succoth ungravelled,
About six hundred thousand men
On foot, besides their families then.
38 A mixed multitude went also
With them, and flocks and herds to go
Much livestock. 39 And they baked their cakes
Of dough unleavened for their sakes
Which they had brought out of Egypt,
For it was not leavened or dipped,
Because they were driven out of
Egypt and could not wait for love,
Nor had provisions yet prepared.
40 And the time Israel's folk had dared
To stay in Egypt was thirty
And four hundred, then they went free.
41 And it happened at the end of
The four hundred and thirty years,
On that very same day above,
It happened after all their tears
That all the armies of YHWH went
Out from the land of Egypt sent.
42 A night of solemn observance
To YHWH for bringing from the fence
Of Egypt's land. This is that night
Of YHWH, a solemn, sacred rite
For all Israel's folk through their days
In all their generations' ways.

As soon as I am fled from slavery
To fashion and the folk's theology,
I stop to bake the cakes from that dough I
Have carried through the temple on the sly
And kept beside the market where I walk.
As soon as I have reached the desert chalk
And given up the wine and water of
Pseudo-science and idolatry's love,
I stop upon the sand to bake the cakes
That I have carried with me for the sakes
Of liberty to obey Your word once
Who for that freedom is considered dunce.
Beloved, I join You in the simple meal
Upon the desert sands and sit on heel.

43 And YHWH said to Moses and Aaron,
"This is the ordinance not barren
Of the Passover. No stranger
Shall eat of it. 44 "But all that stir
Of every man's servants who're bought
For money, when he has been taught
And circumcised, then he may eat.
45 "Stranger and hireling, both shall not
Eat it. 46 "In one house you'll take treat,
You shall not carry any flesh
Outside the house, nor take the fresh
Bone to be broken. 47 "All the folk
Of Israel keep it at a stroke.
48 "And when a stranger dwells with you
To keep the Passover to YHWH,
Let all his males be circumcised,
And then let him come near advised
And keep it, and he shall be as
A native of the land, whereas
No uncircumcised one shall eat.
49 "One law shall be for native-born
And for the stranger who is meet
To dwell among you, beard or shorn."
50 Thus all the folk of Israel did,
As YHWH commanded Moses, bid
Aaron , so they did. 51 And it came
To pass, on that day very same,
That YHWH brought out all Israel's folk
From Egypt's land, under its yoke
According to their armies' number,
To wake and rise up and not slumber.

I once was guest of Jewish folk who kept
Passover on a date in spring, inept
Perhaps in counting months as should be counted,
Who knows, but that is all that it amounted.
They did not ask when they sat me to table
If I were circumcised and thus were able
To join them in the feast. I also thought
To eat standing was what the Bible taught.
At any rate, the child who asked the questions
Contributed as well some new suggestions.
"The hardest thing" she said "when we were there
As slaves in Egypt was the porcine fare."
Beloved, bless me too as that little girl,
Who does not eat the ham or bacon curl.

EXODUS 13

1 Then YHWH spoke to Moses, saying
2 "Consecrate Me all firstborn thing,
Whatever opens womb among
The children of Israel, the sung
Of both man and beast, it is Mine."
3 And Moses told the people fine
"Remember this day in which you
Went out of Egypt, out of true
House of bondage, for by the strength
Of YHWH's hand you were brought at length
Out of this land. No leavened bread
Shall be eaten. 4 "That's why it's said
On this day you are going out,
In the month of green ears, green sprout.
5 "And it shall be, when YHWH brings you
Into the land promised and due
Of Canaanites and the Hittites
And Amorites and the Hivites
And Jebusites, which He swore to
Your fathers to give it to you,
A land flowing with milk and honey,
That you shall keep this without money
In this month, a service to YHWH.
6 "Seven days you shall eat unleaven
Bread, and on the day number seven
There shall be a feast made to YHWH.
7 "Unleavened bread be eaten seven
Days, and no leavened bread shall be
Seen among you, nor shall you see
Leaven in all your houses either.
8 "And you shall tell your son and writher
In that day, saying 'This is done
Because of what thing YHWH has won
For me when I came from Egypt.'
9 "It shall be a sign plain as script
To you on your hand to remind
Between your eyes, not to be blind
That law of YHWH may be in your
Mouth, for with a strong hand and more
YHWH has brought you from Egypt's door.
10 "You shall therefore keep this service
In its season that year to this.

Although the words of law say that the feast
Should be observed forever, at the least
There is in different times prophetic word
To change detailed observance as occurred
In every time and place. So Jewish law
Maintains no sacrifice of lamb or claw.
The Christian takes the pagan rite of spring
Instead of the Passover. Anything
Goes, it appears, Beloved. The Muslim knows
The seventh month or rather first that goes
In Torah is a sacred one to keep,
And maybe fast, but surely fail to leap
Upon warhorses in the holy time.
So men remember Your word and Your rhyme.

11 "And it shall be, when YHWH brings you
Into the land of Canaanites,
The land of food and fame and lights,
As He swore to your fathers true,
And you, and gives at last to you,
12 "That you shall set apart to YHWH
All that open the womb, that is,
Every firstborn that comes from beast
That you have, all the males are His,
And shall be YHWH’s from great to least.
13 "But every firstborn of a donkey
You'll redeem with a lamb for wonky,
And if you'll not redeem it, then
You'll break its neck nor sell for yen.
And all firstborn of man among
Your sons you shall redeem unstung.
14 "So it shall be, when your son asks
You in the future, 'Why these tasks?'
That you shall say to him, 'By strength
Of hand YHWH brought us out the length
Of Egypt, out of bondage house.
15 'When Pharaoh was stubborn as mouse
About letting us go, that YHWH
Killed all the firstborn and on cue
In Egypt's land, both the firstborn
Of man and the firstborn of beast.
Therefore I slaughter without scorn
To YHWH all males from great to least
That open up the womb, but all
The firstborn of my sons I call
Out for redemption.' 16 "And it shall
Be as a sign on your hand and
As frontlets between your eyes stand,
For by strength of hand YHWH brought out
Of Egypt all of us, no doubt."

The cattle must be all redeemed by slaughter
Of the firstborn of males but not of daughter.
The clean beast is assailed for sacrifice
And human sons redeemed with something nice
And kept alive. Ah my Beloved, the donkey
Is thrown out as a worthless honkey-tonkey.
Cannot the donkey also be redeemed?
The Decalogue says not to kill. I dreamed
The donkey too was living thing, though not
Greatly revered by most folks in the plot.
The Jews today give silver dollar to
A Cohen to obey in word or two.
The Muslims slaughter sheep or goat for son,
And only Christians ran no race but won.

WEEK 16

17 Then it happened, when Pharaoh had
Let the people go, Ælohim
Did not lead them by a way bad
Through Philistines' land, though it seem
Near, for Ælohim said "Unless
The people repent at the stress
Of seeing war, and so turn back
To Egypt led by their own track."
18 So Ælohim led the folk round
The wilderness of the Red Sea.
And Israel's folk went safe and sound
And as orderly as can be
Up out of the land of Egypt.
19 And Moses took the bones from crypt
Of Joseph with him, for he'd placed
The folk of Israel strongly braced
Under oath, saying "Ælohim
Will surely visit you, and you
Shall carry up my bones with you."
20 And they took their journey up from
Succoth, camped in Etham when done
At the edge of the wilderness.
21 And YHWH went before them to bless
By day in a pillar of cloud
To lead the way, by night allowed
Pillar of fire to give them light,
So as to go by day and night.
22 He did not take away the cloud
In pillar by day or the fire
By night before the people's choir.

Beloved, lead me not by the Philistines!
I've had enough of cats' evil designs!
I let them rest, indeed, I'll see no war.
Enough of Egypt too and that land's store,
If by Egypt I mean in symbol word
The place of bondage and the undeterred.
The real Egypt of today I'll take
For friendliness, Egyptian kindness' sake.
But when the spirit of religion sounds
I'll go to desert and avoid the rounds
Of resurrecting idols from the sea
That make the faith of Philistines seem free.
Beloved, find me here guided by the cloud
And comforted in desert fire allowed.

EXODUS 14

1 Now YHWH spoke to Moses, and said
2 "Speak to the folk of Israel spread,
That they turn and camp before Pi
Hahiroth, between Migdol by
The sea, opposite Baal Zephon,
You'll camp by the sea thereupon.
3 "For Pharaoh will say of the folk
Of Israel, 'The land will choke
Them where they go in wilderness.'
4 "Then I will harden Pharaoh's heart,
So he'll pursue them relentless,
And I'll gain honour for my part
On Pharaoh and on all his hosts,
That the Egyptians in their boasts
May know I'm YHWH." And they did so.
5 Now it was told so he should know
The king of Egypt that the folk
Had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh
And his servants was turned in stroke
Against the people, and they spoke,
"Why have we done this, that we've let
Israel go from serving us yet?"
6 And he made ready his chariot
And took his people on the spot.

My freedom in the physical depends
On rulers thinking desert makes amends,
And I shall be entangled in my lack
Of gold to clink on silver in my sack.
And so they let me go my sacred way
To eat the manna and herbs every day.
Beloved, when You come to affirm the heart
Hardened with power and its addicting part,
Authorities will fall and fail with me
Who trust in You alone to keep me free.
I flee to You One found in desert land
And joy in walking by Your dry command
That is a secret well of wine and fruit
Behind the stinging sand and soiling soot.

7 Also, he took six hundred choice
Chariots, and all the chariots of
Egypt with their captains above
Every one of them. 8 And YHWH's voice
Hardened the heart of Pharaoh king
Of Egypt, and he on the wing
Pursued the children of Israel,
And the children of Israel well
And bold went out. 9 Egyptians then
Pursued them, all horses and men
And chariots of Pharaoh, horsemen
And his army, and overtook
Them camping by the sea in nook
Beside Pi Hahiroth, before
Baal Zephon on the sea-shore.

Six hundred of the latest technique in
Their military hardware ought to win
Against a fleeing half civilian flock.
It seems armies are chiseled from a block,
At least they still do duty just the same
Against the helpless and the poor for shame
To get the benefit of what is best
In the economy that does not rest.
Beloved, look once more on the armies now
That do a thing not far from Sinai's brow.
There's nothing changed in what we have to face,
So let Your arm be bared in the same place.
I wait upon the seashore looking out
To where the winds and waves are not in doubt.

The flattering lord of the land of fashion
Finds me backed in the corner, forehead ashen,
And thinks the victory won with horse and men,
And chariot on the highway once again
And powered with perfume and diesel fuel
As a car meets criteria of cool.
I hardly see the army in pursuit
Since I've long since disposed of Egypt's soot.
The civilized are too kind everywhere
I turn, I'm courtesy itself and fair.
I know the sweet seller of sportsman's wear
Has heart as hardened as Pharaoh's at best,
And that is why I smile and pass the test,
They do not know, Beloved, I am Your guest.

10 And when Pharaoh drew near the place,
The children of Israel for grace
Lifted their eyes, and saw indeed,
Egyptians marched after with steed.
So they were very much afraid,
And the children of Israel brayed
Out to YHWH. 11 To Moses they said
"Because in Egypt no graves were,
Have you taken us all astir
Away to die in wilderness?
Why have you dealt so to unbless
Us, to bring us out of Egypt?
12 "Is this not what in Egypt's script
We told you saying 'Let us be
That we may serve Egyptians free?'
For better for us to serve the
Egyptians than that we should die
In the wilderness for a try."
13 And Moses said to the folk, "Do
Not be afraid. Stand still, and you
Shall see the salvation of YHWH,
Which He will make for you today.
For the Egyptians whom you see
Today, you truly shall not see
Anymore then forever. 14 "YHWH
Your Ælohim will fight for you,
And you shall hold your peace at lee."

"Because there were no graves in Egypt," that's
Funny, and humour is what the fat cats
Still use to bolster argument for reason.
For reason's dull and boring out of season.
When humour sets the tone, it rules the course,
While reason reaffirms the prickly gorse
I'm sitting on is soft as ilk. Deprive
Me not, Beloved, of either where I strive
Or float, but let me not be blinded by
Humour's reasons or reason's laughing eye.
I hear, Beloved, Your laughter and the voice
Of argument in fine beyond the choice
Of silence by which You still speak to me.
Remove the veils, Beloved, and set me free.

15 And YHWH said to Moses, "Why do
You cry to Me with shout and hue?
Tell the children of Israel to
Go forward. 16 "But lift up your rod,
Stretch out your hand on sea and sod
And divide it. And so the folk
Of Israel shall walk dry for soak
Through the midst of the sea. 17 "And I
Indeed will harden up and dry
The hearts of the Egyptians, and
They'll follow them. So I'll command
Honour over Pharaoh and all
His army, chariot, horse and stall.
18 "Then the Egyptians shall know I
Am YHWH, when I have gained the sky
For Myself over Pharaoh then,
Over his chariots, and his men."
19 And the Angel of Ælohim,
Who went before in cloud and beam
The camp of Israel, moved behind
Them, and the pillar of cloud lined
Went from before them, stood behind.
20 So it came in between the camp
Of the Egyptians and the camp
Of Israel. Thus it was cloud
And darkness to Egyptian crowd,
And it gave light by night in sight,
So they did not come near all night.

The veil that separates my soul from You
In fire and light is darkness to those who
Pursue my life for slavery and gain.
On one side's light, and on the other rain,
While the same veil distributes to all men.
The cock rules in the same barnyard as hen.
Beloved, remove not all the veils from me
And lay me naked for the world to see.
As long as lance and gun are on the shore
I pray for veils at window and locked door.
Who stands before Your face without a fear
Is one who first has no fear at the ear.
And yet, Beloved, remove the veils from me
When cannon, horse and men are sunk in sea.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand on
The sea, and YHWH caused sea till dawn
To go by strong east wind all night,
And made the sea into the dry,
Dividing the waters thereby.
22 So the children of Israel went
Into the midst of the sea sent
Upon the dry, the waters' wall
To them on their right hand to loll
And on their left. 23 And the Egyptians
Pursued and went with their conscriptions
After them into the sea's heart,
All Pharaoh's horses at the start,
His chariots, and his horsemen too.
24 Now it happened, at morning watch,
That YHWH looked down, and not to botch,
Upon Egyptian army through
The pillar of fire and of cloud,
And troubled the Egyptian crowd.

Despoiler of mankind and woman too
Is always sure he's got his rights to do.
Excuse is always reason in his sight
And what he does of evil's always right.
To be right and not wrong gives courage when
One faces nature's danger or its men.
The argument of courage never fails
To lead men in the seabed where the whales
Themselves know not to go. Beloved, preserve
My simple soul from courage, let me rest
Instead a coward on Your loving breast.
Let me not in my single right and song
Go trampling on the seabed of the wrong.
Beloved, give me a fainter heart, not verve.

25 And He took off their chariot wheels,
So they drove with uneven keels,
And the Egyptians said "Let's flee
From the face of Israel, for He,
YHWH, fights for them and against the
Egyptians." 26 Then YHWH said to Moses,
"Stretch out your hand where the sea closes,
That the waters may come back on
The Egyptians, their chariots, on
Their horsemen." 27 And Moses stretched out
His hand over the sea about,
And when the morning light appeared,
The sea returned to its full tiered,
While the Egyptians in it fled.
So YHWH overthrew and with dread
Egyptians upon the seabed.
28 Then the waters returned and covered
The chariots, horsemen, all that hovered
Of the army of Pharaoh come
Into the sea after them, swum.
Not so much as one of them stayed.

I've seen Egyptian chariot wheels at least
In pictures if not reconstructed beast
In some Coptic museum on the block.
They're thin, like leg of gazelle, on a rock
Or rut it seems to me they'd surely break.
I would not put my trust in chariot's stake.
So did You really, my Beloved, come by
And take the wheels off with Your hand or eye?
Or is this Moses' speaking in his zeal
When he says You Yourself took off the wheel?
The reason I ask's that I'd like to know
If there's a chance You might once again show
An inclination to technology.
I know some cogs and wheels You might set free.

29 But the children of Israel made
A walk on dry through the sea-bed,
The waters walled them in its stead
Upon their right hand and their left.
30 So YHWH saved Israel with hand deft
That day out of Egyptians’ hand,
And Israel saw Egyptians dead
On the seashore, upon the land.
31 Thus Israel saw the great work which
YHWH had done in Egypt for switch,
So the people feared YHWH, believed
YHWH, His servant Moses reprieved.

A crowd of people might believe a while
That someone is a prophet for his smile
And the fact that his leadership improves
World safety, how the economy moves.
For miracles the people believed Moses
A prophet sent from You, one who discloses
The secrets of the future and past fate.
But prophetship hides hook beneath the bait,
And when the sting comes folk are never late
To reject whom they once rose to instate.
Beloved, I trust Your hand though still unseen
To turn the evil in my life to green,
And trust Your prophet, though no Red Seas part
To pave a way for me into Your heart.

EXODUS 15

1 Then Moses and Israel's folk sang
This song to YHWH, in great harangue:
"I'll sing to YHWH, for gloriously
He's triumphed! He's thrown in the sea
The horse and rider! 2 YHWH's my strength
And song, He has become at length
My salvation, He is my God,
And I will praise Him under rod,
My father's Ælohim, and I'll
Exalt and praise Him all the while.
3 YHWH is a great warrior, and YHWH's
His name. 4 Pharaoh's chariots abuse
And his army cast in the sea,
Brave captains drowned in the Red Sea.
5 The depths have covered them, they sank
To the bottom like a stone shank.
6 "Your right hand, O YHWH, has become
Glorious in power unquietsome,
And Your right hand, O YHWH, has dashed
The enemy in pieces crashed.

O my Belovèd, overthrow in power
The enemy I find without, within!
I seek You only in this darkened hour
Of conflict caused by greed and blinded sin.
O Huu, You glorious in power and right,
Look on oppression and the bloody fight
And raise once more the hand of might that brought
The slave from Egypt long ago and caught
Oppression in its own entangled feet.
Dash the oppressor now as then in pieces
And raise the slave to freedom from the seat
Of every sovereign and master's caprices
To do Your will alone. To You, not brother,
I flee for refuge from myself and other.

7 In greatness of Your excellence
You've overthrown at their expense
Those who rose against You, You sent
Forth Your wrath, it consumed them spent
Like stubble. 8 And with the blast of
Your nostrils the waters above
Were gathered together, the floods
Stood upright like a heap, the muds
Of the depths congealed in the heart
Of the sea. 9 And then for his part
The enemy said 'I'll pursue,
I'll overtake, I'll grasp my due,
My will shall be done upon them.
I'll draw my sword in stratagem,
My hand shall destroy them.' 10 You blew
With Your wind, the sea covered them,
They sank like lead in mighty waters.
11 "Who's like You among gods and daughters,
O YHWH, among the gods? Who's like
You, glorious, holy, and to strike
Fear in praises, and wonders done?
12 You stretched out Your right hand and won,
The earth swallowed them on the run.

The first time Your wind blew across the face
Of the primeval sea it left a trace
Since then called earth, place where I live and breathe.
No wonder some prefer to call the seethe
And boil of that creative wind Your Spirit.
The Red Sea wind must have been such or near it.
The wind that moves from You, Beloved, is power
Creating in a week, but in an hour
Destroying the mad rush to overcome
The souls in flight to freedom for a crumb.
As I look on the Red Sea, calm, benign,
Let me not think, because there is no sign
That You are here, that all things now are free.
The ripple on the wave is bound to be.

13 You in Your mercy have led forth
The people whom You have redeemed,
You've guided in Your strength thenceforth
To Your holy dwelling esteemed
14 "The people will hear and will fear
Sorrow take hold of whom appear
In the land of the Philistines.
15 Then the chiefs of Edom's designs
Will be undone, the mighty men
Of Moab, trembling will again
Take hold of them, all they who dwell
In Canaan will melt and dispel.
16 Fear and dread will fall upon them,
By greatness of Your stratagem
They will be as still as a stone,
Till Your people pass on alone,
O YHWH, till the people pass over
Whom You have purchased from slave-drover.
17 You will bring them in and plant them
In the mountain of Your bright gem,
Place of inheritance, O YHWH,
Which You've made for Your own house too,
The sanctuary, O Lord, Your
Hands have established times of yore.
18 "Eternally YHWH shall reign more."

The song of Moses rings out on the wind
That covered Pharaoh and his folk that sinned.
The song sings on a barren land for lee
Where there is hardly bush and not a tree.
No temple clad in cedar, made of stone,
Encloses melodies on air alone.
The slave that was has left the golden throne
And decorated temple in his flight
And found instead that destitution's right
Upon his heels no matter what the gold
Hidden in bosom says to make him bold.
Yet Moses sings of sanctuary fair
Set as eternal heritage somewhere.
Faith sees the fact upon the wind and air.

19 For the horses of Pharaoh went
With his chariots and horsemen sent
Into the sea, and YHWH brought back
The waters of the sea in stack
Upon them. But the children of
Israel went on dry above
And in the middle of the sea
Which was the road they had to flee.
20 Then Miriam the prophetess,
The sister of Aaron , to bless
Took timbrel in her hand, and all
The women went out at her call
After her with timbrels and dance.
21 And Miriam answered as in trance,
"Sing to YHWH, for He's gloriously
Triumphed! And He's thrown in the sea
The horse and rider wonderfully!"

Three and a half millennia ago
She lived and sang, that's why she had to show
A thing or two before the joyful people.
Today such figures enter not the steeple.
For all the row the fact is prophets come
Today and for some time in centuries
As men and not as women who are dumb.
She's lucky she lived in a time decrees
Were more progressive than they've been of late.
Queens we may have, and ministers of state,
But prophets must be men and more's the pity.
A Miriam once again would be right pretty.
Beloved, I sing with Miriam in her song
And with her brother too if I'm not wrong.

22 So Moses brought Israel out from
The Red Sea, from the way they'd come,
Then they went out in the desert
Of Shur, went three days without hurt
In the desert and found no water.
23 Now when they came up without slaughter
To Marah, they could not drink there
The waters of Marah or dare,
For they were bitter, and that's why
The place was called Marah foreby.
24 And the people complained against
Moses, saying "What shall we drink?"
25 So he cried out to YHWH incensed,
And YHWH showed him a tree which he
Cast in the waters to make be
The waters sweet. He made law there
And ordinance to test them fair,
26 And said "If you diligently
Heed the voice of YHWH who's to be
Your God and do right in His sight,
Give ear to His commandments and
Keep all His statutes, I'll command
None of the illnesses on you
Which I have made Egyptians' due.
For I am YHWH, one who heals you."
27 Then they came to Elim, where there
Were twelve wells of water to share
And seventy palms, and so they
Camped there by the waters that day.

The secret keys of health are plainly met
In this obscure and middle passage set
Between the two great episodes known by
The rank and file of readers gone awry.
Not herb nor shaman nor confected pill
In face of illness' fortune fit the bill,
But rather following, Beloved, the laws
That You established after Red Sea jaws.
What statutes are these made, and what the test?
What is the thing that gives health more than rest?
The Sabbath returns fast on the twelve palms
To show the way to health until death calms.
Beloved, the Decalogue shows health and life,
Long life for one, and for the other fife.



AUTHOR: THOMAS G. MCELWAIN

Copyright © 2007 Adams & McElwain Publishers and Thomas McElwain First Published in two volumes, The Beloved and I 2005, and Led of the Beloved, 2006. Second Edition, 2010 Third and revised edition, 2012 All rights reserved. No part of this verse commentary on the sacred Scriptures may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from publisher.

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