Don’t say, don’t say there is no water to solace the dryness at our hearts.
—Denise Levertov, “The Fountain”
We stand outside
in the searing sun,
thirst, thirst,
and wonder why
our outstretched tongues
are dry.
Meanwhile, beside us,
the river floods—
water enough
to take out the road.
Oh the way is seldom
what we think.