Rachel

in toil of the Lord served old Jacob
seven and again spaces of the sun
and threw the angel of the night, hip to hub,
and cried upon the waking day, "One. One"!

twice have I wived thee, Jacob, said the Lord,
once in grace, once in gall, for I am both
and more and all, I, I, the wonder word,
and fact and act and rest come not too close

and Jacob slept and woke and took his place
in the long caravan of days, limp stepped
as the stutter of Moses, and the praise
of Jacob who shall sing but one who's wept?

while Leah heals with tears, sister Rachel
plays with joy: ah, the defeated angel!


Sonnets Out Of Time #24