LIFE AS MYTH
JOURNAL
JOURNAL 2013
A living myth
Seven year cycles
SPRING 2013
A song of hope
The churning of the milky ocean
LIFEWORKS
ATLAS
SPRING 2013
A SONG OF HOPE
The dance of Miriam from The Golden Haggadah, artist unknown. ca 14th century. The British Library, London. This panel is an interpretation of Exodus 15:20. (below) Madonna and child, Workshop of Filippo Lippi. ca. 1446-1447. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore.
Luke 1 is the textual source for The Magnificat, attributed to the Virgin Mary and part of the annunciation tradition. The church later adapted it as a canticle to be spoken or sung in church services. This poem shares similarities with a much older text, The song of Miriam (Exodus 15), possibly the oldest extant poetry in the Old Testament and often misattributed to the prophet Moses. This poetry is part of the exodus story and was sung following the successful crossing of the Red Sea. A comparison of the two texts follows.
I will sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
he has hurled into the sea.
An excerpt from The song of Miriam, Miriam (384-22 BC), poet, prophet, Exodus 15My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
... He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
An excerpt from "The song of Mary", Luke 1
