the water sprite

once, out in the wood, I spied a water Sprite

with purple thighs and a wandering Eye

uprooting mandrake and saying “That’s Right,

it’s a job” – She settled on the river bank, Sighed,

and drifted off to sleep where I could watch Her –

drops of sweat settled on her upper Lip

and she breathed steadily, strong as a Fir

in a north wind saying, “Sleep, Slip

of a girl, dream the dream of the Water

God, make it true” – Awakening, She

stretched, this girl, the River’s Daughter

yearning above all things to be

joined with the Sea – I watched as she closed

her eyes silently in the Water below --