Translation by Jacob Riyeff

“The one who has the bride is the bridegroom…” (John 3:29)

Jesus, so the gospels say, was weary on his way;

so at midday’s bell he stopped at a well.

Just then a woman, who was a Samaritan,

scooped up some water as he watched her.

His thanes were away finding food for the day,

so he sought some relief as they sat in the heat.

Samaritan Woman:

“Good man, why do you think to ask me for a drink?

Christ knows that the Jews don’t share our food.”

Christ:

“Woman, if only you’d notice how uncanny God’s gift is.

And if only you knew who’s sitting next to you,

you’d ask him to tell about his living well.”

Samaritan Woman

“This well goes so far down, and I live off in town…

But you don’t have a vessel to scoop up this water:

good man, do tell, how you receive this living well.

Are you greater than Jacob, our father,

who gave us this well where he drank his fill,

whose sheep and cattle also drank this water?”

Christ:

“Who drinks this water will thirst all the more;

who drinks of mine won’t thirst again.

In his breast and with pleasure it’ll well up forever.”

Samaritan Woman:

“I pray you, O King: give me this spring,

so, freed from this curse, I’d no longer thirst.”

Christ:

“Woman, go find, go fetch here your husband.”

She said she’d so done that she didn’t have one.

“You are right to pronounce that you haven’t a spouse:

before you had five, with whom you did as you like.

And you know, of course, your current man’s not yours.”

Samaritan Woman:

“Lord, you shine so bright you may be a prophet.

Our forefathers, by right, prayed on this height;

our ancestors, in these prayers, sought mercy here.

Though you say it’s Jerusalem where God receives them…”

[the text unfortunately breaks off here]

Jacob Riyeff