Friday, May 28, 2004
Only If
Only If
(written while walking around Sloat Lake in Golden Gate Park)
Only if you have been
to the well.
Only if you have sent your bucket down
to the cool depths,
where the water darkens,
and clears,
and darkens
and clears again,
and then brought your bucket up
and let it touch your lips
and drunk a deep draught
of that utterly pure liquid
letting it glide down
your throat
like sweet fire made of air,
like caught light descending
until it illumines even
your most distant places,
only then will you know,
be ready.
copyright, Dorothy Walters
(written while walking around Sloat Lake in Golden Gate Park)
Only if you have been
to the well.
Only if you have sent your bucket down
to the cool depths,
where the water darkens,
and clears,
and darkens
and clears again,
and then brought your bucket up
and let it touch your lips
and drunk a deep draught
of that utterly pure liquid
letting it glide down
your throat
like sweet fire made of air,
like caught light descending
until it illumines even
your most distant places,
only then will you know,
be ready.
copyright, Dorothy Walters
