snake’s hiss
as the salted rain
attempts smothering
flame
the last flame
in this small empty room

the dilemma of faith

we are born with
all

the rain collects
against warped floorboards
is it a fathom?
perhaps fathomless
the lamp floats as if
it were a lotus blossom

life is the great remembering
all

singing that song
the flame outgrows
the room
I feel my own ginger touch
on my brow on my
shoulders and
to my most familiar core

this rain provides
all

© Tom Watters  2/21/07