Water, Water Everywhere

 

My favorite theme in the arts is Redemption.  It's why, a while back, I rewatched "Pretty Woman."  This film is about two good people who both do terrible things with their lives.  It's not a spiritual, religious redemption, but, because they love each other, they both become better people. 

Last week my daughter-in-law, Angie, dropped by and brought me her copy of "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner."  I had never read it but we all know quotes or phrases from this LONG poem.  

Water. water. every where,  And all the boards did shrink;

Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink.

 Written in 1798,this was Samual Coleridge's longest poem.  You may have been forced to read it in college or high school.  Angie read it in college and loved it.  I didn't "love" it but I'm happy I plowed through.  

So, what's it about?  It's about a man who made a bad decision but, in the end, he was truly redeemed, (as in the biblical sense.) 

Ir begins when the Ancient Mariner stops a wedding guest and proceeds to tell him a long, sad story of a voyage.  During this voyage, they encounter a terrible storm and then, out of nowhere, an Albatross appears.  The crew sees it as a good omen.  The Mariner, with no explanation, kills the Albatross.  

The sailers continue to suffer and die because they're in the storm and have no water. At this point they hang the Albatross around the Mariner's neck.  The crew dies.  The Mariner lives because he bites his arm and drinks his own blood.  

Many more adventures ensue but in the end, the Mariner gives himself to God and spends the rest of his life telling others that prayer is the greatest joy in life. 

At length did cross an Albatross,  Thorough the fog it came;  As if it had been a Christian soul,  We hailed it in God's name.

Instead of the cross, the Albatross, About my neck was hung.

The self-same moment I could pray; And from my neck so free,  The Albatross fell off, and sank,  Like lead into the sea.

He loved the bird that loved the man,  Who shot him with his bow.

This story is absolutely nothing like "Pretty Woman."  It's about true redemption.

The drawings are exquisite.  

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