EXODOUS

THE EXODUS

The Pharaoh was sitting on his throne
In contemplation of all he owned
But the thought that he might loose it all
If a small disaster should pay a call
He sent for Moses a good strong boy
And asked “Can you help” now don’t be coy
I just have a feeling that something is wrong
The Empire of Egypt has never been this strong

Well what more do you want, his vassal enquired?
A little uneasy with what had transpired
I need an enforcer and I thought of you
There would not be much that you have to do
Just hold down the crime and keep terror at bay
That’s all I shall need now what do you say?
Well Moses said thanks but I’ll have to say no
See my god has requested that you let us all go!

I knew it said Pharaoh it was you all along
When the river ran red I knew something was wrong
And what’s with the toads raining down from the sky?
No, I can’t let them go we would never get by
Is that your last word then in this little spat
Moses asked as he nonchalantly swatted a gnat
It is, said the Pharaoh there’ll be no compromise
And as you are going will you take with you these flies

From that point in things simply got worse
With the Pharaoh convinced that the Jews were a curse
He could not go out for dead cows in the street
And the sun very quick at tainting the meat
So the Pharaoh bid Moses “Come here and lets talk”
No I can’t come to you because I can’t walk
And when Moses went round to his place on the Nile
He saw Pharaoh’s foot with a glistening red boil

You’re in a bad way Moses said you are cursed
Will you please let us go before it gets worse?
But Pharaoh was stubborn and would not relent
As outside the hail fell in the seventh plague sent
With all the crops flat Moses made one more call
Let my people go they’re not yours after all
But the Pharaoh was cunning and tried to buy time
And asked Moses for help just this one last time

We need you to help us to gather in the crops
That is if this hail is ever going to stop
But the locusts devoured the corn where it fell
There was not an ear left for Pharaoh to sell
Well you cannot go now there are new crops to plant
Said a Pharaoh trying hard not to seem a tyrant
But Moses took leave and said he must go
As it’s getting quite dark and progress was slow

Don’t think this the end there is more yet to come
Let my people go or you will loose your first son
Moses told of the visitor his god would send
With no mention of lamb blood to ward off Ha'Shem
Still Pharaoh was stubborn and would not give in
Unaware that omnipotence is a terrible sin
And all through the land a wail of regret
That a Pharaoh’s no match for a god he’d not met

No more cried the Pharaoh take your children and go
Leave Egypt for Sinai and don’t walk too slow
As the children set out for the new promised-land
Moses counted ten plagues that had got out of hand
And stood by the sea saw a column of dust
Pursued by the soldiers of one not to trust
As he held out his staff for the red sea to part
He said, “It’s a bit muddy but we’d best make a start”

He noted twelve tribes as they all walked by
With their sheep and their goats and children that cry
He watched as the waters swallowed up swords and shields
Of Egyptians that perished on that killing field
And mused if Passover was always like this?
If it was then next year we might give it a miss
As he ambled along in the wilderness sun
On the brink of a journey only just begun

JP.