courage and compassion
Caryl Ramsdale, American Poet
Story: A slave woman who birthed the chief of the prophets that became Israel’s great deliver.
Jochebed means “The Lord Is Glory”
to Opal Skidmore Buchanan
A woman screamed—and then another—
Only a mother could scream that way;
Horses galloping toward the river—
Were chilling sounds she heard night and day.
Crouched in the corner of her own home,
The first female boat maker hurried;
Daubing bulrushes with slime and pitch
As she built an ark—hid it—worried.
When she could no longer keep him safe
In her own home where she birthed him;
She wrapped the goodly child in her shawl—
Walked toward the river when light was dim.
At the river’s edge she prayed again
As she tucked him into the small boat;
Gave him to the unknown—in God’s care
And walked backward watching her ark float.
His sister hid at the river’s bank
Witnessing the rock-a-bye motion;
Of his tiny basket—she kelt there
Intent, with sisterly devotion.
She would tell of her brother’s outcome,
And didn’t have very long to wait;
The first thing she heard were voices—now
She’d face his destiny—know his fate.
Maids scooped and splashed water playfully,
‘Til their bathing princess asked them to
Rescue his ark floating near some reeds.
Pharaoh’s daughter—saw the shawl—she knew.
And when the bold sister showed herself—
Offering to bring forth a Hebrew
To nurse the child, with a mother’s milk—
He was returned to his own ‘til he grew.
And that princess—Pharaoh’s daughter—was
His mother, when he needed her most;
And Moses' birth mother Jochebed—
Knew her Hebrew son took a leader's post.
And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son.
And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water. EXODUS 2:10
~ Pray for many to have a desire for the compassionate heart of Pharaoh’s daughter…it pleases God. ~
© Copyright 1999-2007 Caryl Ramsdale. All rights reserved.
NewsongsOnline.Org
October 09, 2005
