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Leah
| Open Poetry #4 |
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Leah |
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H. Arlequin Member
since 1999-08-23
Posts 210 |
Leah I Lonely Lament The smell of sheep, I hate! The noise of nasal bleats enunciates dependence worse than family boys. This sister's chore inseminates their numbers, writ, and prayers, despite those guileless faces begging, "Speak no more, we're tired of sums, tonight." Without a rest, six days each week a shepherd leads the pasture search through deep crevasse or mountain pass, where meadows lie below her perch. Farsighted eyes await the glass to leave the dells for water wells, then night, the pen, and dawn again. Is there no more to life than this, deceitful stirrings within the breast, the eldest born, yet doomed to miss my own in birth, at Fate's behest? II Unloved I saw him come. Convinced, he one whose bed I'd share, the husband who'd entomb good seed, son after son, til from his crops new clans ensued, that soon he'd ask my hand. Instead, for seven years he worked to earn the right to choose a wife to wed for love. Jacob's outraged concern he spoke to Laban's waiting face, on substitution subterfuge, "Leah's in Rachel's bridal place!" "The eldest marries first. No huge event, remain the week and gain, the one adored can be restored." Six sons I bore a clever man, his passion not in store for me. Respect, honor, duty men can give. Love is for lovers to see. III Matriarch Today, I have him all alone, the vision changed. The way it seemed, for years of slights he would atone, to find in me all he had dreamed. Instead, I am a loser twice, my sister dead, his love forlorn, withdrawn, that face set cold as ice, as if in blame, a silent scorn descends, estranges further still. Her death a second son had born, the two his pride and joy would fill the empty heart by absence torn. She, his beauty, I mere duty, each far apart in Jacob's heart. Could I return to virgin days, no man would I let close to me whose lips and eyes indifference pays to passion for his wife to be. --H. Arlequin . . . . Women of the Word Poems From the Goober Tree http://nathoo.wustl.edu/goober_tree.htm [This message has been edited by H. Arlequin (edited 11-13-1999).] |
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| © Copyright 1999 H. Arlequin - All Rights Reserved | |||
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caroline Senior Member
since 1999-08-16
Posts 1218http://members.xoom.com/belladona123/index.htm |
Ahhhh H!! What a brilliant storyteller you are  I like this much!------------------ "Tread softly, for I have spread my dreams under your feet"~~William Butler Yeats |
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Kenneth Ray Taylor Member
since 1999-11-11
Posts 139Duluth, Minnesota, USA |
This thing is a masterpiece!!! I'm so fond of the story of Leah & Rachel that I named my only daughter Leah Rachel. I put Leah first, since she, to me, symbolizes inner beauty and character. Rachel is outward beauty and charm. Both are important, but the first is more so. As a footnote, I find it interesting that Jacob choose to be buried next to Leah, rather than Rachel (Genesis 49:31). |
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Ohme Senior Member
since 1999-07-17
Posts 816Texas |
I agree, very nicely told. |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Bravo, H.A. Excellently told from the viewpoint of Leah! What a talent you have to put yourself in the mind of others. I enjoyed this thoroughly! And good point you made there, Kenneth! I had never known that!------------------ Denise |
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snow in summer Member
since 1999-08-28
Posts 67 |
H.A. - This whole series you are doing on the "Women of the Word" is really wonderful. And Kenneth - thank you so much for your contribution to the discussion. You made a very interesting point about Jacob's chosen burial place. It seems that Leah's wish was realized, and in the end she is neither unloved nor lonely. |
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