“where absent-minded prophets come to drown”

—Benjamin Peret

near the water’s edge he sat

as if waiting for something

momentous to occur

although the sun shimmered

brightly across the water

the mountain air was cold

for a moment he sensed someone

watching from the trees

he turned but nothing waited there

far away his life changed

as he watched the light

dance along the water’s surface

he swam out slowly

to the middle of the lake

and sank into the dark

(December 3, 2020)