But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live. – Exodus 1:17

Learn, baby, learn.

All you know of the harshness of living on Earth
are the infant’s discomforts, the hunger, the wetness,
the missing embrace, the blanket unwrapped.
There are forces unknown which will end your discomforts.
They would open your veins. They would have you breathe the Nile.

Learn, baby, learn.

There are some who bear swords and will use them on you.
There are some who will tell them to slaughter and kill.
There are some who will rotate their heads in their shame.
There are some who will watch and will nod in approval.
There are some who will believe that their silence is speech.

Learn, baby, learn.

Learn of the men who build power through fear.
Learn of the women they threaten with terror.
Learn of the ones who will not tread the path
of violent obedience, life-stealing loyalty.
Learn of the midwives and of your own kin.

Learn, baby, learn.

Your mother has given your life to the Nile –
a desperate step, a foolhardy plan –
the river’s rough reeds, woven in pitch,
are all to preserve you from Pharaoh’s desire,
to stop up your breath with the waves and the flood.

Learn, baby, learn.

A woman retrieves you from your fragile ark.
Though raised up in power, it’s pity that rules her.
Compassion and courage have saved you, small one:
Bithiah’s mercy, Miriam’s courage,
Jochebed’s thoroughness, Puah’s fear of God.

Learn, baby, learn.

Learn the mercy, the courage, the constant attention.
Learn the creative ways to harbor the innocents.
Learn the eyes that perceive the power of pity.
Learn the power of pitch against the waters that drown.
Learn, budding prophet, to be faithful to God.

Learn, baby, learn.

A poem/prayer based on Exodus 1:8-2:10, the Revised Common Lectionary Gospel Reading for Year A, Proper 16 (21).

The image is The Finding of Moses by Salvator Rosa (1660) – https://www.dia.org/art/collection/object/finding-moses-59779, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79699569.

The two midwives are identified as Shiphrah and Puah in Exodus 1:15. Moses’ sister Miriam is first named in Exodus 15:20, where she is described as “the prophet Miriam.” Mother Jochebed’s name is revealed in Exodus 6:10. The “daughter of Pharaoh” is not named in Exodus. 1 Chronicles 4:17 calls her “Bit-yah,” or “daughter of the LORD,” and is the source of the name I’ve used here.