when you talk to water

when you talk to water

“we found the friction of ice to be very high.” -dr. miguel salmeron

be prepared

for the water to talk back

be willing

to ripple like

undulating fingers &

tiedye rubber bands of light

in a lapping calmness

the water met me at the edge

slowly drinking the day,

hiding under the evening ducks

wish, swish, i pour

longing straight over the rocks

to the end of the exhale

(the universe is the best

matchmaker known to itself)

cold & unloaded i

stand up quickly but wait!

the water!

has a voice it jumps into me

be prepared

for the freeze

even the scientists can't 

explain why, it's slippery, 

these things happen, sense 

comes late and will not be

rushed

lower temperatures have a way

of behaving: strangely, like pressure

so test it with skate & shanty

cube that loose state 

of crystalline

pay clear attention.

nerves get built from cycles

of protection, from strong 

surface reflections. go 

deeper, see god, see liquid

and need, see understanding

remember the potential for merging

remember.

contained boundaries can appear

empty or full, more than half

a heart given. remember.

it all expands, evaporates, returns

this is a toast

to earth and to ice

be prepared

for the thaw

12.17.11