Sunday, 1 March 2020

Mothering tribes and nations

Genesis 35:22-26

Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid: Dan and Naphtali. The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maid: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

Like many before
and many after
servants were coerced 
to produce heirs
to steer the patriarchy
through periods
of barrenness
Sometimes acknowledged
more often not.
Sometimes provided for
usually cast out
once they’d served their purpose
Heavily redacted genealogies
make it difficult
to trace the lines 
So we lift up the names
Hagar
Bilhah 
Zilpah
along with women
through the ages
valued only
as procreators
whose names are not spoken
whose bodies are not honoured
whose wholeness is not seen 

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