I Become Water

Early, beside the stream,

willows grow densely.

Beavers pond water into habitat.

Sun rises through forest.

I lie down on the earth and soak in sunshine

beside the beaver pond,

lazy in morning warmth, half-dreaming,

Quiet as morning grasses, morning trees.

I become water

life inhabits me

fish, water snakes, amphibians,

plants and crustaceans.

The last shards of winter's ice

dissolve in sunshine.

I journey homeward, seaward

slowly here in willow surrounded ponds,

resting for whitely wild rush down mountain

where gentle mountain meadow

drops to rugged canyon.

The biggest beaver floats, eyes above water,

knows my dreaming presence is foreign here

curves and slaps flat tail against water

Yi! Thundering heart.

I return to humanness.

Thank you, beaver.

I remember becoming water.