Sing black spirituals of labor, devotion, and courage. Sing these old plantation songs as they were originally sung. Let manner and matter of that singing signify the strength of a race. Sing in spite of the risk.
And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, “gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days.”
Reuben, my first born, adding to the malice of your transgression, yes, hoping you’ll change your nature and altering the wrong, the defiling of my bed and my couch, still you’ll be as unstable as water and will not excel.
Tis a pity! He had so much potential. If only he had not taken shares in the bride.
Simeon and Levi are brothers.
Just a little Judas tonic.
Stay out of this!
Instruments of torture fill their homes. They grew up within my sight, under my roof, in a land of milk and honey.
Bring their scooters along, and they were all real brothers in the just right home of Jacob.
In their anger they killed a man. Curse is their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel.
That describes them.
Where did I go wrong? And because of their transgressions, they’ll be scattered throughout Israel.
And Judah?
You let me tell you. From now until such and such a date, in other words forever, Judah shall be praised. Wonder if you were as popular? A young lion, he shall always rule. Imagine washing your clothes in wine and brushing your teeth with milk?
Zebulun!
A safe harbor.
Issachar!
He is a strong ass couching down between two burdens.
A slave!
I refuse to believe it.
And the good brother….
….shall bow his shoulder to bear.
All that has to be done has yet to be done and done again, when days are long and hard.
And Dan shall judge his people.
The snake!
Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he’ll finally win.
And Asher?
A royal pastry does marvels for your soul.
Naphtali is a deer let loose, while Joseph is a fruitful bough.
And Benjamin?
My baby. Do you hear, Benjamin is my baby. And on all fours like a wolf he will devour his prey, and at night he will divide the spoil.
That’s all twelve.
And that was it that their father spoke, and he blessed them. Musically: as the spirituals continue to be sung, the plaintive strains of a funeral mass are also heard, as Jacob leads a possession to a burying place.
Randy Ford
