Miriam's Story

We stood together at the Red Sea
The ones who wrote the story followed him
The others followed me
I took my timbrel in my hand
And I led the song as we passed on the land
Where the sea had been

I am the prophetess of my family
Throughout the ages you will remember me
But please don't only remember me for the song I've sung
I have my own story, I am Miriam

Daughter of Yocheved, I was only eight or nine
When I watched his basket
As it floated down the Nile
I told Pharoah's daughter, looking up with brave eyes,
"I know a mother who can take care of him if you'd like"

I am the prophetess of my family
Throughout the ages you will remember me
But please don't only remember me for the song I've sung
I have my own story, I am Miriam

And when I spoke against the woman he wed
No one seemed to remember, I too was a prophet--

And on the first new moon in the wilderness of Zin
We came to Kadesh and I would not leave with them
Their mouths were dry without the water from my well
And though I was buried there
My life lived on to tell:

I am the prophetess of my family
Throughout the ages you will remember me
But please don't only remember me for the song I've sung
I have my own story, I am Miriam.

© Rebecca Katz 2003