I carried a heavy load out of Egypt
unbaked resentments, thwarted
dreams, raw emotions, fear,

grudges galore, serious grudges 
against authority, overseers,
Pharoah, ordinary men too

because even as slaves they 
didn't live at the bottom of 
the brick pile where I lived.

I carried a lot out of Egypt
crying children, whispered prayers, 
the blood of my ancestors,

idols hidden in my cloak
just in case the men we followed 
had misinterpreted what god said
.

I grumbled under the heavy load
only learning later that freedom 
is the heaviest load of all.

©2023marthahurwitz