Mary Woten

First Miriam 1:1-16

Listen, O Israel,
Hear, O People of the Book.
Are you as a Child,
Never to Grow to Adulthood?
Are you as One who Studies,
Never to Learn?

When your Forefathers Wandered
They needed a Mark to Remind them
To Whom they Belonged.
As Wayward Children need a Punishment
When they Stray,
So Israel needed a Mark.
But have you not Learned,
O Israel?
Have you not Matured,
O People of the Book?
The Creation I have made
Is Good,
All that I have made
Is Pure.
Why then do you continue
To Damage my Creation?
Why do you Cut Off
That which I have Made?
What Use have I for your Foreskins?
What Pride have I in a People
That Mutilates its Young?


David brought Two Hundred Foreskins
To Saul as a Brideprice for Michal--
Did I show My Blessing
Upon that Union?
Am I Impressed by
Blind Following of Old Law?
Will you Gain Favor
By Wielding a Knife?

Spare your Young:
Shield and Protect them
As a Loving Mother would.
Spare your Young:
Teach and Inform them
As a Responsible Father would.
Do not Hand them Over
To Old Men,
Do not Hand them Over
As Lambs to the Slaughter.
Love them.
Suffer them Not.
Spare them.
Honor them.

Be a Mature People,
O Israel.
Grow into Adulthood,
O People of the Book.