INTRODUZIONE
“A New World” è il primo libro di Mosè, più noto come la Genesi, raccontato in modo unico. Versi scorrevoli in rima baciata ed un incalzante ritmo trasportano il lettore dalle delizie verdeggianti del Giardino dell’Eden, oltre Noè e l’alluvione e le avventure di Abramo e Isacco, fino all’arrivo di Giuseppe in Egitto e la sua ascesa al potere come braccio destro del Faraone. Uno stile scanzonato ma mai irriverente, porta in vita i personaggi di questa storia biblica e fa di ‘A New World’ una lettura molto piacevole sia per bambini che per adulti.
Per trarre il massimo beneficio dalla traccia audio, si consiglia di fare l’ascolto almeno una volta prima di passare alla lettura del testo.
The
corn
ration
[Genesis 41:54]
Throughout the years of famine, the system worked a treat,
The corn was rationed carefully so everyone could eat.
When hungry folk began to moan, hiss and boo, or shout,
Pharaoh just said, “Go see Jo, he’ll sort your problems out.”
Outside Joseph’s granaries queues began to form,
As people came from miles around to buy Egyptian corn.
When Jacob heard about it all, he knew the time was nigh
To send his sons to Egypt to see what they could buy.
He told them all to leave at once, all except for Ben,
Jacob wanted him to stay, and sent the other ten.
When they reached the palace walls, they bowed both long and low,
Before the governor general – their little brother Jo!
Surprised to see them all again, Jo wondered what to do,
The dream he’d had so long ago, had finally come true.
Since no sign of recognition flickered in their eyes,
He pointed and accused them all of being foreign spies.
They did their best to demonstrate that they were humble men,
Who’d only come to buy some corn and then go home again.
“While other nations,” Jo declared, “are dropping down like flies,
I knew for sure that soon enough you’d all start sending spies.”
“But we’re just twelve poor brothers, in need of food,” they said.
“The youngest one we left at home, the other one is dead.”
“I’ll let you have your corn,” said Jo, “believe me, have no fear,
But only if you give your word to bring your brother here.”
He gave them time to contemplate, locked inside the jail,
A little taste of prison life, he felt, could hardly fail.
Every time he felt remorse, he pushed the thought aside,
A week or so behind cold bars would help them to decide.
But Jo was too goodhearted, too merciful a man,
He freed them after just three days and came up with a plan.
One of them would stay behind, inside the prison cell,
The others would go home again to see that all was well.
They’d take sufficient corn supplies for every likelihood,
And bring their brother back to him as quickly as they could.
The one they chose to stay behind would be a guarantee,
When all the others had returned, Jo would set him free.
Joseph’s brothers huddled round and heatedly debated,
They thought he didn’t understand since nobody translated.
But Joseph understood each word and heaved a heavy sigh,
Notwithstanding all their wrongs, he couldn’t help but cry.
His brothers were uncertain as to who should be selected,
Till Simeon proposed himself, and nobody objected.
So Joseph filled his brothers’ sacks and sent them off at dawn,
The money bags they’d given him, he hid inside their corn.
When the brothers stopped to feed their donkeys on the way,
They found the hidden money and knew not what to say.
They stared in quiet disbelief and on their knees they fell,
Convinced that it was sorcery or some celestial spell.
When they got back home at last and told their dad the tale,
On hearing Jo’s request for Ben, the man began to wail.
The question of the money bags was put in second place,
Their father was the real problem they now had to face.
It was clear that Jacob didn’t want young Ben to go,
And though they pleaded desperately, he flatly answered, “No!”
