POEM: ‘Naming the Thirst’
when we are born
thirst makes us cry
thirst surges through our arteries
when the hormones hit
when we start to wither
our thirst actually increases
for the tongue of touch
the dictionary of rain
we remember we were once loved
it was love that kept us alive
**
Then every face
was like the face of God
each berry in the bucket
sweet to the taste
we were swifter than eagles
stronger than lions
when was this
it was in our dream
and when we wake
all gone but the thirst
**
if moments exist
when illusion dissipates like fog
do not say we are dreaming
we see past supermarket and traintracks
we dive off the high board
into the wind-whipped trenchcoat of a world
we eat flowers and mud
in mirth kissing our friends
then fog looms again
stinging and blinding our eyes
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