Fire in the Water

Barely a man 
he stands trembling 
water lapping at thighs in cotton white
right arm to the square 
“… having been commissioned …”
asking of the stones and the wind 
to make this water a crossroad 
between the living 
and those yet to be borne. 

The push of water wrinkles 
at the spirit’s edge 

pushing in 
washing, cleansing, changing 

pushing out in covenant circles 
edge to edge 
            and beyond 

moist waveforms 
radiating renewal 

Each cloud-delivered molecule 
            hydrogen and 
            oxygen, 
a covenant between fire and air 
and in their grasp 
the scene plays into the universe.