[Glenn Wright]

Hi, Roger—

I see your point. (Nice pun with “undermines,” BTW.) The English word “ore” means the mineral matrix with the valuable metal included in it. The Spanish word “escoria” means the waste left after the valuable metal has been extracted. I will adjust accordingly. Good catch!

I like the improved meter you suggested for S1L1. Susan suggested something similar.

I will also try using an ABBA rhyme scheme in the first quatrain as in the original.

Thanks for your careful and helpful critique.

Glenn