(Miriam’s victory song)
Emma McCoy
I remember the sand under my feet
when I watched my brother on the river-
caught in the reeds, a prophecy in a wicker basket.
There came Pharaoh’s daughter, I was afraid
but watched my brother on the river,
God whispering mystery in my ear.
I, so afraid, saw Pharaoh’s daughter coming.
She sent me back to Mother.
God whispered mystery in my ear,
always overflowing into song and tragedy
and sending me back to Mother.
My brother grew old in exile,
he will overflow into song and tragedy
like the guttural sound of freedom.
My brother grew old in exile
and we led an exodus across the sea
to the guttural sound of freedom.
God is in the air we breathe, He told me.
We led an exodus across the sea
and felt the heat of the desert.
God is in the air we breathe, He told me
to keep His commandments and love without restraint.
I feel the heat of the desert,
the cool uncertainty of an ocean split apart.
Keep His commandments. Love without restraint.
I sing the victory song as a vision for the future amid
the cool uncertainty of an ocean split apart.
The salt tangles my hair and closes my eyes.
The victory song is a vision for the future and
I remember the sand under my feet.
The salt tangles my hair and closes my eyes. I am
caught in the reeds- a prophecy in a wicker basket.