AQUATICS
OR THE WATER SONG
...........Voices
Glass-lipped, speak of
water:
“Hear the God-head roar
in the spit spate splash.
Fangs of foam leap to
trace
The mystic words over
the dancing space.
From water’s fire grew
life’s desire.
Pollen from the stern
reed fly dark powders
As the willow seeds rise
to dance,
And saps like wine
Spur the ancient woods.
Where pit pat notes,
float
On diamond tunes
There, crescendos of
water
Echo the bird call.
Stretched to the sun
Sucked by the moon
All witch streams shine,
double-eyed
And twist as planets
turn.
All the slaps of the
grey sea surge
Embrace the long tides.
Flesh like the winds
Lover without a face,
docile and tender
Bliss, world beyond the
hands
The raw green perfumes
of water
Exhilarate like a kiss.
Flail, hail, and grail.
Like splashes of thunder
led with violet lips
Waters drink back from
the coffers of History
Both the rose and the
thorn
And all the gods from
ancient worships.
Pure leader of returning
rivers;
Cleaner of burnt papers
And the lame finger
revived.
The wave cannot live
The wave cannot stay
with us
........if ever running
Water.........speak,
sing for us
White daughter of
Eternity!"
–JEANNINE HARRAULT
(France)
21st December, 1973