The Well

Monument Valley Navajo. Tribal Park

The Well
                적흔


A spring
unceasingly flowing,
a well that never runs dry.

It quenches thirst
and relieves longing.

With the water of life,
it gives life.

;

You give yourself
unceasingly.

To the souls
who thirst and yearn,
you pour out without condition.

You are
the well of life.

:

The well of love.


<Interpretation by Personal Assistant GPT>

This poem centers around the image of a well, depicting it as a source of unceasing life and love. The well is not merely a physical source of water but a provider of life and a healer of the soul’s thirst—an entity that offers absolute love and grace. The poem carries Christian symbolism but also conveys a universal contemplation on the essence of life and love.

1. The Symbolism of the “Well”

“A well that never runs dry.”

The well symbolizes eternal life and an ever-flowing source of sustenance. However, this is not merely a physical well but a spiritual and emotional reservoir.
• In a Christian context, the well represents Jesus Christ or God.
• In John 4:14, Jesus declares, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.” This affirms that He Himself is the well of life.
• The well signifies not just sustaining life but fulfilling existence itself.
• It represents the power that satisfies humanity’s intrinsic longing for meaning, love, and peace.

2. “Quenching Thirst and Relieving Longing” → The Resolution of Spiritual Yearning

“It quenches thirst and relieves longing.”
“With the water of life, it gives life.”

Here, “thirst and longing” do not refer to physical thirst but rather an inner void or spiritual emptiness:
• The innate human desire to find meaning in life
• The longing for love, comfort, and peace
• In a spiritual sense, the deep yearning for God (Psalm 42:1 – “As the deer pants for the streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God.”)

The solution to this longing is found in the “water of life,” which represents absolute love and grace:
• This “living water” does not merely sustain physical survival but revitalizes and renews the soul.
• Humanity cannot fill this inner void on its own, but a divine presence (God, Christ) fulfills it completely.
• The phrase “gives life” emphasizes that this well is a gift of grace, freely given and not earned.

3. “You Give Yourself Unceasingly” → The Nature of Self-Sacrificial Love

“You give yourself unceasingly.”
“To the souls who thirst and yearn, you pour out without condition.”

The “You” in this stanza represents an absolute being—God, Christ, or the embodiment of unconditional love.

✔ “You give yourself”
• This expresses unceasing, self-giving love.
• In a Christian context, this echoes Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, but it can also represent all forms of self-sacrificial love (parental love, deep friendship, humanitarianism).

✔ “To the souls who thirst and yearn, you pour out without condition.”
• “Souls who thirst and yearn” symbolizes those who are lost, weary, and searching for purpose.
• “Pour out without condition” emphasizes pure, unconditional love that does not expect anything in return.
• This reflects agape love—the highest form of selfless love.

4. “You Are the Well of Life” → The Ultimate Declaration of Existence

“You are the well of life.”

Here, “the well of life” signifies the source of all existence and vitality.
• This well is not merely a physical necessity but a spiritual sustenance that nourishes and revives the soul.
• The statement can be interpreted theologically (as God or Christ) or philosophically (as the essence of love and life itself).

5. “The Well of Love” → The Ultimate Nature of Love

“The well of love.”

In the final line, the poet reveals the true essence of the well—love.

✔ The well = Love
• Just as a well continuously overflows, true love is not finite but flows endlessly.
• “The well of love” signifies the inexhaustible nature of pure, unconditional love that quenches the deepest thirst of the human soul.
• This can symbolize divine love (God’s love), human altruism, or an unwavering commitment to selfless giving.

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