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Last Ladies of the Plain, rewrite
| Open Poetry #6 |
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Last Ladies of the Plain, rewrite |
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H. Arlequin Member
since 1999-08-23
Posts 210 |
These poems pertain to Lot, his choices and his family from the perspective of his daughter, Sughar. Last Ladies of the Plain I...Because of Abraham.... II.."...he lifted up his eyes" III.The Cities of the Plain IV..Seductress V...Don't Look Back VI..Procreation I Because of Abraham... Into a world where might prevailed and men brought force of will to bear its foreign fruit, preferring peace abjured, a universe assailed Creation's plan despite despair in Him that sin would ever cease confusion of His mortal joy. As Noah had, another heard and willingly obeyed the voice who named Himself, I Am. "Destroy past ties, prepare to speak this word, 'By faith shall Abram's seed rejoice'." From Ur to Egypt, graced between Chaldean dream and Mamre's yew, to all His weal ensued, no well was dry, no famine fell unseen. He multiplied, new flocks accrue to overflow the lands they dwell. Excess became a troubling blessing, Lot contriving extrication from the source of his largesse, "We must divide the land." Stressing freedom seemed a justification of himself, to Abraham's distress. II "....he lifted up his eyes" What benefit the wealth of flocks that multiply by two and three to him the steward of their care, if he must wander mountain rocks the whole of life and guardian be to fleecy chains which bind him where he would not stay? Is life not more than silent stares at hazy scenes of shadowed mountains' piled display? What distant wonder would restore diminished joys ennui demeans in shepherds' scenes, day after day? Like ants in line rush to and fro from honey spill to nest and back, the caravans traverse the Vale of Jordan's length, from Hermon's snow to Red Sea dhow filled bale and sack, to trade in worlds with goods for sale that profits make. The risk of wits excites a day if plans well laid, and reaps its just reward, lures wealth beyond the numbered flock and fits the dream one man of means has made, whose herds attest his trader stealth. III The Cities of the Plain Like jewels spaced along a belt that beauty wears to grace her loins, seduction an announced intent, five cities of the plain had knelt to worship gods of golden coins, with welcomed caravan consent. Near decadent their temperature, the winter warm, in summer's heat cold Jordan waters moderate. Though green year long, Sodom's stature was second to Gomorrah's feat of wealth bitumen ponds inflate. Admah, Zeboiim and Zoar the other gems, all five unique cities banding as one domain, upon attack. The rotten core of greed had ruined all who'd wreak His bane which life cannot contain. One city, tempting Lot afar, seduced the shepherd from his sheep, and but for pleading Abraham, this sad ill-fated merchant's star had set, never rising to keep alive his righteous virtue's sham. IV Seductress Lurid Sodom's vanished mirage of storied wealth and fame, became to Lot a recurring vision, fool's gold, a glittering collage of lust's licentiousness and shame abasing moral decision. His purchased judgeship affected few in a land where money spoke too well, muted justice and urged the right of might. Men collected to prey until the weakest broke as greed to loathsome limits surged. Behind the guarded walls at night, three unknown visitors announced that Lot with family must flee and not look back upon their plight. Fire would consume what God renounced and nought be spared for anguished plea. From those he tried to warn, disdain the paid reward, shouting attempts at ridicule's deadly derision, "How dare the wealthy come for gain, then preach the fire to fall exempts no man's ignoring the moral decision?" V Don't Look Back Should stern celestial angels speak direst warnings of disaster and the sense of dread drifts down on you, set your sight on the mountain peak and accelerate the faster, don't look back, salt statues stand in view. Think not on houses of your friends nor the home place from your childhood, it's too late for people, places, things; no one pre-warned to flee its ends, can evangelize for sainthood, don't look back for Mercy's taken wings. The scrambling scoundrels clutch at life, sounding footsteps drawing closer an adrenoterror bites their tongue, anxious not for child or wife, those too slow damnation's loser, don't look back to parley for their young. The madness of stampeding bulls, mere calvess at play, compared the crush as cities of the Vale explode with fire; sulfur's stench found well fleshed fools for fallen brimstone flowed like slush... don't look back to mourn Gomorrah's pyre. VI Procreation The last, Zoar, haven one day... before the dawning of the next, a vision warned it was for good that Lot and daughters rush away, and seek a mountain cave's pretext of sanctuary from what stood to be creation's fiery end. Anxious terror time turned tame when from the sky its brimstone ceased, with three, alone, alive to fend despair away. "Review the name of Lot, whose numbers death decreased!" Could from his ancient promise come a world of man restored? One man, too old, too tired to care, the wine, excess, forgetfulness....dreams drum for passion's youthfulness to stand again, affirm new life's design.... That they were not the last alive parading days confirmed, as well as sons to each. Moab the first, and brother Ben Ammi survive to father nations who'd retell of Jordan's Vale when heaven burst. --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 04-10-2000).] |
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Mike Member Elite
since 1999-06-19
Posts 2462 |
I can only imagine the time and effort put into this magnificent work. T'was worth the effort. Thanks muchly for the posting. |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Welcome back, HA!! Nice to see you again! This is excellent writing, of course!! You should post more often!! Denise |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
HI HA - How are ya? I have to take some time to read this, and I can't do that till later - but I can't just let it sit on page two till then - so here's a bump... Read this you profound poets... This goober is good...  |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
I have to thank Nan for directing me here. This is a fantastic weave of the biblical story! Wow, the angels who came to call, and Lot taking them in...and the neighborhood wanting to get to "know" them. How Lot's wife looked back still desiring the life and it's style, and was turned to salt. WOW! Fantastic. You should come join us in Spiritual. We'd love to see your work over there. I would love for you to have this moved into Spiritual when you're done with it here so the others there could read and enjoy this terrific piece also. |
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H. Arlequin Member
since 1999-08-23
Posts 210 |
Hi Mike, Denise, Darling Nan and WhiteDove, smoooooooooooooooooches to ye one and all!!!! Tytytytytytytytytyty for the kind wishes and remarks..... Just completed a metrical re-write that I hope facilitates the flow...  ))thanks soooo much for reading and responding, HA [This message has been edited by H. Arlequin (edited 04-10-2000).] |
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snow in summer Member
since 1999-08-28
Posts 67 |
This is just plain awesome! |
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