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Laurance Wieder
June/July 1998
What the God of Jacob said through Joseph, we sing
In a psalm, accompanied by tambourine and shepherd's harp.
New moon, full moon, blow the horn of Israel
Again. About the law:

When I sent Joseph down to Egypt
(Strange tongues spoken there)
I took his brothers off his shoulders,
Saved him from the chore pots.
He called, I answered him
With dreams. I answer you with thunder:
Split rocks gush bitter water.

Do not worship strangeness
In yourself or others' glamour:
I led you out of Egypt, and will
Fill your mouth. Just open
When I speak: but no one listens.

Had they not loved the sound of their own voices,
Chosen lust, and meat, and hate,
I would have made them masters over all they met,
Would have fed them white bread milled from finest wheat,
Spread with honey from the rock.