Letter to the Editor: Passover Night

To the Editor:

From Mitzrayim we fled that night
‘midst wails and cries of panic and fright.
Through the lamb’s blood on the door we went
our God was with us as we were sent

into the desert with silver and gold
from neighbors in Egypt, we were so bold
to demand our wages for 400 years
of backbreaking labor and scores of tears.

The lamb that lived in our homes for four days
was taken and slaughtered to show us God’s ways.
This Passover lamb was our awe-filled salvation
with his blood on the doorposts to make us a nation.

The flies and the frogs were warm-ups, you see,
from this night of the death angel you cannot flee.
The Egyptians knew not of the lamb’s sacrifice
that began our journey to paradise.

We marched by tribes with all we could carry
and with flocks and herds and told not to tarry.
The Egyptians rallied and pursued us days later
with horse and chariot, Pharaoh as dictator.

Our backs to the sea and Pharaoh’s army in front
Moses cried out to God with words that were blunt.
“Adonai, save us,” he cried with loud voice.
“Hold out your staff o’er the sea and rejoice,”

our God did say, then we walked on dry land
as cliffs of water on each side did stand.
The Egyptians followed to their despair,
horse and chariot the mud did snare.
We moved through the sea as fast as we could,
then turned and observed their death as we stood.
With faces of flint we continued to tread
towards the Promised Land just as God said.

Submitted by
Nanferd and Judy Felke
Waukon
with written permission to reprint from Bethany Pearce
Cedar Rapids