A poem I was inspired to write after reading the story of Deborah and Jael in Judges 4 from Robert Alter's book, "Ancient Israel."
The Sound of Release
A prophet woman's oracle is delivered
to the rhythm of drums – Boom! Boom! Boom!
The warriors are released!
Can you hear
the hammering of the horse's hooves on their way to war?
Boom! Boom! Boom!
God hammering away at Israel's bonds of
captivity -
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sound of war is in the air-
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The climax of victory is heard from the
tent of Jael -
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Between her legs his sleeping head
lies,
his weary heart beats hard for the very last time -
his weary heart beats hard for the very last time -
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With strong swings, she hammers his
skull into the ground -
Boom! Boom! Boom!
From his palace his mother cries,
“Why is his chariot so long in coming?”
“Why is his chariot so long in coming?”
Her anxious tears fall to the ground -
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Silence.
Silence, the golden sound of freedom's
peace reigns once again in Israel.
April 1, 2013
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