Monday, Mar. 9

Under a palm tree, standing strong,
Deborah judged and led the nation.
Choosing, refusing, inciting,
leading, encouraging, fighting,
the wife of "Torches"
and namesake of bees
made a stinging, fiery mark
across the stolid pages of scripture.

I see her as older, wiser, taller,
strong and vocal, stern and loving.
Shifting from elders, not yet
calling kings, a judge is a prophet,
a voice into the wilderness
out of the settled hearth
or cultivated field.
From the wilderness comes threat,
dangers from Egypt,
raiders on the wing,
storm clouds from the west.

Standing against the untamed,
the opposition, the Destroyer,
Deborah sat and spoke,
discerning and learning,
teaching and preaching.

Barack would not lead without her,
the blessed would not set forth
without her blessing.
Deborah was a judge in Israel,
a poet in ancient times,
the fifth chapter in the seventh book,
when I turn to the Bible and read,
and am judged.