apprentice

i want to do it. i want to do it. me, me

i screamed at my father, fearful he would just do it himself

when he dug the new well on rutgers road

he'd put in dozens of wells. this time, my time

i pump the handle. this is easy

no resistance. no water, though. only air

you’ve dug a dry well. gurgling sounds underground

air hitting metal. water prefers to stay down

don't forget to prime it

he called back. you have to have water

to draw water. you have to pour yours in first

experience teaches the deeper the well

the harder the task of keeping clay-red life

                from coagulating

                clogging its flow through

                                steel veins

woman at the well