The Canoe

The water is rising.
The tide raises the boats.
The levees weep.

The water is walking -
a pillar by day,
a column by night.

The pillar grows stronger,
feeds on the water.
It moves the pleasure palace.

The levees weep. The bird
flies over the flood.
Listen to the mockingbird.

Lines in the water,
voices floating on the water.
The water is walking.

The tide raises the boats,
but not the canoe.
The flood overwhelms the canoe.

The water is rising. The
bird flies above the water.
Listen to the mockingbird.