they say
she
fell

over there

yes
just across
the river
from where
the reeds
come to shore
as in
Mose's story

yes
there was
no warning
she just
fell

people ran
to help
but
it was
hope
less

tendrils
tenderly
trailing
hairlike
in the water

the surge
has subsided
only broken limbs
show
above the flow

an old water rat
has
a new home

upturned roots
a hundred years
a-growing

in the slanting
winter sun
and thin
December air
behind me
a wren
disappears

12/12/2006