Hi Gary,
An interesting piece...
I'm intruiged by it's use of what seems very contemporary phrases (like the 
radio) and images that belong to traditions that probably haven't changed 
for millenias. I guess the rope that was braided by grandmothers shows that 
use of the new and the old within the way the poem works, too.
The only part that made me think, and scratch my head a little, is:
"You are the sun
send to quicken your servant's thirst
so he may find your bride."
because that needs sooooo much more knowledge of the original story to make 
any sense of. I guess, with all else, an overview of middle eastern culture 
and history might be enough but, with this phrase -and because this phrase 
is only a selected echo of what you've written before! - could make the 
reader jump out of the poem to find answers.
And the statement "as bold as the orphan" might also make me want to wonder 
very carefully. It's not An orphan, but THE orphan - which orphan???
But when poems are linked these are questions that can be asked of one poem 
(and an assurance can be given that they are, or will be, answered in 
another).
I'm also still puzzling over the words, over how the poem's ending:
"We are,
Rebekah."
Maybe it's just that Rebekah isn't mentioned before in the poem - but it 
might be that she's the one in "she said" in the quotation before the poem 
began. And is she, therefore, also the one who says the stanza that begins 
"You are the water..."
I mean because she gets a mention only at the end the reader may want to 
puzzle out what and where else she may be (and why she's there at all!)
I guess, Gary, I sometimes worry too much about including information in a 
poem that doesn't seem relevant to all else that's in the poem. When poems 
belong in a sequence then there's good reason for doing it, I guess. But, 
myself, I find it difficult to accept it can be done. When I've written 
sequences I've always wanted each part to be entire in itself - and felt 
they each don't "need" the others to be used as footnotes. I know, however, 
other writers don't worry, don't restrict themselves, as much as I. I'm 
coming round to the point of view, tho, that sequences are replacing "the 
long poem" (which has many cross references built into it) so I'm not 
altogether clear what's going on... or what I could end up doing myself!
Bob


>From: Gary Blankenship <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: New:  Wells II
>Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2003 08:38:23 -0700
>
>Wells II
>
>
>"Drink my lord," she said.
>     -Genesis 24:18
>
>
>
>I am the well
>
>dug before El-Baal radioed his promise
>
>to his people,
>
>deep enough to reach
>
>the waters of the Garden's rivers,
>
>lined with stone quarried by giants
>
>born of the First and exiled men.
>
>
>
>I am the well,
>
>draw from me.
>
>
>
>*
>
>
>
>You are the water,
>
>cold as from heaven's mountains,
>
>pure as a day-old lamb,
>
>water to quench the thirst
>
>of king, wife, and servant alike,
>
>tonic for your camel,
>
>goat, ox.
>
>
>
>You are the water,
>
>drink of me.
>
>
>
>*
>
>
>
>We are the skin
>
>crafted to retrieve the waters,
>
>tanned from our father's goats,
>
>cut and sown by our mother's thread,
>
>a measure for your sheep,
>
>herds, children
>
>crops, kitchen.
>
>
>
>We are the skin,
>
>tip us.
>
>
>
>*
>
>
>
>I am the rope
>
>braided by grandmothers
>
>long past.
>
>
>
>I am the girl,
>
>the rope smooth in my hands
>
>used to rough work.
>
>
>
>You are the sun
>
>send to quicken your servant's thirst
>
>so he may find your bride.
>
>
>
>*
>
>
>
>Hands,
>
>rope,
>
>skin,
>
>well,
>
>water:
>
>
>
>We are His plan
>
>as quick as the knife,
>
>as bold as the orphan,
>
>as sure as the sacrifices
>
>
>
>made
>
>and yet to come.
>
>
>
>*
>
>
>
>We are,
>
>Rebekah.
>IF MY MAIL BOUNCES, MAIL [log in to unmask] AS AN ALTERNATIVE.....The 
>homepage on hold until ???--- Writer's Hood at 
>http://www.writershood.com/.....Check out the Auden contest.  Poets for 
>Peace.... ˇPoemas sí, balas no!

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