well this river is deep & wide / hallelujah
milk & honey on the other side / hallelujah

when michael rowed the boat ashore
crouched down over that mighty jordan roar
when michael rowed the boat ashore
struggling with those flimsy splintered oars
when michael rowed the boat ashore / he
never steered the craft into jesus’ kingdom
that brown boy’s promised land
we call it freedom

hallelujah
michael row the boat shore
hallelujah

when david searched to find that stone / her
ankle flesh rubbed back to bone with chain
when david looked to find that stone
crouched among the cotton fields / down low
when david chose that stone to slay / she
armed the slingshot at the master’s head / & prayed

sister help to trim that sail
hallelujah
sister help to trim that sail
hallelujah

so obama has entered the lion’s den / that
large white house built by chained black men
so obama’s entered the lion’s den
but lord / can the young man tame the thing
obama’s entered the lion’s den
can I get a witness / lord / amen
the man has entered the lion’s den
& this silence has descended

hallelujah
michael row the boat shore
hallelujah

lot/s wife was asked
to leave all she knew behind

hallelujah

& the woman thought she could
but just one last glance behind

hallelujah

this god has a vengeance

hallelujah

she had to die
to keep her faith alive
(what an ending)

well this river is chilly & cold / hallelujah
chills the body but not the soul / hallelujah

well this river is deep & wide / hallelujah
milk & honey on the other side / hallelujah

(c) Maxine Clarke 2008. I will be performing a gospel version of this poem at The Big Read Out this coming Friday 23rd Jan, Glitch Bar and Cinema, 318 St Georges Street, North Fitzroy at 8pm.