At the Well, by Elisa A. Garza

Jesus and the Woman at the Well, by Lu Hongnian (China) before 1989

​At the Well

Beneath a water-hued landscape
that distracts the way the thirsts
of life pull our eyes from God,
the Samaritan woman, stopped
while filling her water jar by Jesus,
his unusual request for a drink,
stares at the ground in front
of her full bucket, considering
his words, the living water.

Jesus sits by the old well,
two fingers raised as if blessing
her bowed head. Oh, to be her,
to recognize the glory of God
in a basic request. I also say
Lord, give me this water,
for the world makes me thirst
managing many demands
and I too, long to be blessed.

Elisa A. Garza
​
Elisa A. Garza is a poet, editor, and writing teacher of students from elementary age to senior citizens.  She is now teaching writing workshops for cancer patients and survivors. Her full-length collection Regalos (Lamar University Literary Press) was a finalist for the National Poetry Series.  Elisa’s chapbooks include Between the Light / entre la claridad, and The Body, Cancerous, forthcoming in 2025 (both from Mouthfeel Press).  Her poems have recently appeared in Southern Humanities Review, Ars Medica, and Huizache and one was recently on exhibit at The Health Museum in Houston.