Satisfying Thirst

author’s note:

Another poem previously posted and recently tweaked.

“No more anger, no more hunger,
  I sit now in the shade of my own tree.”
            --  Sumangalamala (6 c B.C.E., trans. unknown)


SATIATION

I know why we feel thirsty--

with the well water so far down
the mountains seem to recede
and the stars remain
light years away.

The entire world
retreats from my reach.

I am so far removed from myself--
farther than the moon--

except at that odd
shadow hour--
when
by the innocence of accident--
I slip down beside myself
under the tree
by the creek
as sun
splashes on
the stones--

then I know
I’m always
right here--
no matter how thirsty
I seem,
no matter that
I can’t seem
to quench this thirst.

Yes--no matter
how much
the wells
and mountains
and
twirling stars
tantalize me--

I’m always--always--right here.

© 2008, Michael R. Patton
dreaming up some steps