#40 Kevin Brophy 'Water dreaming'

The woman who weaves baskets
from desert grasses
and likes to stand in front
of the air conditioner with a
cool drink on a hot day
invited us today
to go to the lake with her
on the weekend,
where she can help us
with the ceremony
that will make it possible
for us to swim in the lake
safe from its dark serpent
and we said yes,
if it's water and if it's a lake
and we can swim in it
and we can get there
without being bogged
we will go with you.

The young heifer that
walks around the town
looking for water
came in to the school
as the sun came down
today,
swinging her tail
and tilting her horns at us
as if to say
if there's water here,
and if I can get to it
and drink it up
you won't be stopping me,
not even that kinder teacher
with the stick
looking like she wants me
to believe
she does this scaring of cows
every day.