oleander
profusely
around
the town square
along
the marble paths
red
oleander flower petals
on the
pavement.
breeze
of the afternoon
rambles
along,
marigold’s
pungent musk the
spray
lifting from the fountain
stray
with the breeze of the afternoon.
from
nature,
emanating
from its source
a
sacrament ascends:
at the
fountain
the
water endless pours
cool
and clear and cleansing
into
the basin,
too
shallow for a swim
but nice
there to drown
oppressive
thoughts- effortless
to rekindle
tranquil ones-
overflows
the marble lips, nearly,
always
finds the exit path
a
mouth sliced in the stone
liquid
treasure flowing,
greening
cobblestones,
slippery
the moss.
quenching
women
bound homeward with
loaves,
black bread sesame bread
farmers
led by thirsty burros,
burros
who
toil and suffer and cry aloud
till
death worked to death,
quenching
children
who drink too often
to be
thirsty,
quenching
poets
who drink often
and
are thirsty still
for
pellucid, diaphanous water.
poets in
patchwork skirts and lace
poets in
faded denim bristled face,
muscles
firm with resolve
lips
marble, nearly,
till quenched, till loved,
poets eager
at the fountain
treasure
flowing from source-
torrid
the harmony of the earth-
but grateful
roots,
nothing
parched
blooming
oleander
sunburst
marigold
water endless
life-giving
