Water

After Elements: Water by Teresa Lind cast aluminum

I am in you, of you, cleanse and quench you.
I am rain and snow, ice and haze
ocean tide, first April dew.
my hands are open: all ways, always.

I am rain and snow, ice and haze
all I have, yours for the taking
hands held open all ways, always.
from Fundy’s tide to brooks that sing:

all I have is yours for the taking
one drop? Whole sea? I give to you
brook-song, Bay of Fundy’s swing
yours to use: no payment due.

One drop? Whole sea? All for you
and I ask nothing in return
it’s yours: there is no payment due.
but there is something you must learn.

Why ask nothing in return?
If it’s polluted, it’s what you’ve earned
to be in you, of you, cleanse and quench you.
my hands stay open, all ways, always.

Peter Sherrill has appeared in Bramble, Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar, Wisconsin Academy Review, and in a variety of online forums. He’s won several statewide poetry awards, and is a past president of the Fellowship. He and his wife Carrie are co-poets-laureate of Door County, Wisconsin.