Don’t Touch the Water

I had a dream

Standing at the river bank

Don’t touch

The water

It is made of sorrow

The tears

Of grief long known

All-encompassing

Walk upriver

Ahead

A skiff

The ferryman has come

Don’t touch

The water

He says

It will consume you

Step aboard

Let us cross

He has not come for me

I know

Further ashore

An angel

Smooth ebony hair

Slender and poised

Elegant

Peaceful

She passes by without a thought

The ferryman

Solemn

Takes her hand

Drifts away with her

Don’t touch

The water

He calls back to me

It will be your turn across

One day

There is no use

In drowning now

But if you must

I do not blame you

I stand

On the fringe

Water lapping at my toes

I shouldn’t stay

I step away

Further to shore

To dry land

I have touched the water now

It is made of sorrow indeed

Pure and honest tears

Of grief long known

And all-encompassing