On the far side of the sandy desert,
under the holy unnoticed mountain,
he carefully tended a shepherd’s flock.
Weary wind whistling, crescent moon hung thin;
as flames of fire flickered from within.
Inside a bush which did not burn, but soar;
stillness surrounded the prophet’s coarse skin.
Breathe in… and out, deep like an ocean roar;
yet quite passive as a newly lamb bore.
Abounding voice calling deep from within,
a hidden location from all but one.
“Moses, Moses…” then “Here I am,” muffled;
legs frozen in time with nowhere to run.
This holy ground; make your sandals undone.
Visage hidden beneath the veil of time,
misery of those enslaved… everyone;
I come to free the lost before their prime.
Whips lick their flesh; people who broke no crime.
“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?”
Moses spoke, voice twisted in chilled night air.
“I’m with you; a sure sign shall be your stead.
This holy mountain is where you will fare
in that day your, My, people will come there.”
“What is your name,” he asked burning bright flame?
“God of my Fathers,” he whispered a prayer.
“I Am, Who I Am…” the loud rumble came;
the One who one day would make well the lame.
“Gather noble elders of Israel;
tell them I have seen what Egypt has done.
A land of milk and honey they will go,
you will certainly flee, be on the run.”
“Egypt’s king is surely a stubborn one”;
Moses speaks his worried claim bowing low.
“My wonders I will show to everyone!”
Precious silver and gold their bags will show;
sweet plunder, a parting gift from their foe.
“Surely, no one will believe a plain man.”
“Stretch out your hand with steady wooden rod;
cast it on the ground, gaze on what you glean.”
A serpent slithers, Moses quickly trod.
“Reach out your hand grab its tail from the sod;
a rod again, they will believe once seen.
Touch your hand to your bosom, I am God.
Slip it out leprous as snow, unclean”;
tucked in robes now hand soft as velveteen.
Moses, a simple man, often put on a pedestal had many things to learn from God. (See yesterday’s post.) His story so interesting and can be read in the book of Exodus, in the Bible. Come back next week for the continuation of Moses’ journey.
Linking up with dVerse
edpilolla
/ February 9, 2012what i know about moses is that he was a murderer chosen by god. this shows the importance of seeing ourselves as we are: sinners. this life story allowed moses to do for god what was needed. yes, moses is quite an interesting figure.
johnallenrichter
/ February 8, 2012Touching friend, and very grounding…….
Victoria C. Slotto
/ February 8, 2012I savor this passage from Exodus and a couple of years ago posted one one the same subject: http://liv2write2day.wordpress.com/2010/08/26/poem-exodus-34-2/
Thanks, Patricia
Margaret L. Been
/ February 8, 2012That gives me goose bumps! So beautiful!
suzicate
/ February 8, 2012Wow, simply beautiful.
pattisj
/ February 7, 2012I love your version of this story, how you turn a phrase, just beautiful, Patricia.
Pat Hatt
/ February 7, 2012Great story today, I knew this one too. Nice with the rhyme flow as well, that I just had to tell.
Laurie Kolp
/ February 7, 2012Beautifully written… love that story.
brian miller
/ February 7, 2012moses is one that can be related too…as with many of gods people he chose ones not perfect, perhaps so that we could relate…and realise they were as broken as we…
Heaven
/ February 7, 2012I am familiar with this story but nice to read it again in your own words ~
Thanks for sharing this ~
ayala
/ February 7, 2012Nicely penned !
AudreyHowitt (@AudreyHowitt)
/ February 7, 2012This reminds me that there are no lessons learned without loss of some sort or another–Lovely piece!
claudia
/ February 7, 2012he had some hard lessons to learn – read a book once…moses, the making of a leader…god takes his time to teach us to walk before he sends us to the pharaoh..and this is what i love about him…
zongrik
/ February 7, 2012nice rhymes