Empty Your Vessel

Let in a drop of water
to slide down a parched throat
tasting a thousand years of
rusted swords, lost in the
mud
washed from the battlefield
as swiftly moving currents
stole away struggling limbs
silencing cries for mercy with
thunderous insistence

Outward to join briny waters
where deeply hidden
creatures created before marching soldiers
coming to rest upon
hovels and burrows
calling tentacles to
taste ruined flesh
and porous bones
leaving small evidence
of battles lost
or won
but promising adequacy
as cleansing waters
turn
struggle to dust
leaving only a
small remembrance
a ring of silver plain and glinting

love left upon a quilt
twice touched by slick passion
once folded, shelved
motheaten
(weeping still)

Thirst unmet
sullied with a flavor of
decomposition
too long to cleanse
blood, love, lost
to the untouchable
will of
entrepeneurs

Beside lakes and rivers
safely sought
camps built near
fresh water
beneath a universal moon
shining for
hope to bring
a new start
to
a widowed world.