On that day the Lord saved Israel from the hand[s] of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dying on the seashore.
It is said when we arrived
at the other side of the sea
When the walls of water
closed up on the Egyptians
When we stood with dry feet
When the magnitude of that freedom
caused us to break out in song
The enormity of this moment
spread to enemies we hadn’t met yet.
Nearby chieftains were startled.
Moabite men trembled at the news.
The Canaanites melted.
Was this a metaphor?
Was it like a fluid Terminator?
A Dali clock?
An ice cube?
Was it an Indiana Jones situation?
(or is that too on the nose?)
Some say it was like
dissolving in raindrops.
Soon after we found our feet
melting on desert sand.
Our parched lips complaining
about bitter water
with seemingly no memory
of chariot wheels and spears
floating away.