The Schmooze

POEM: ‘Naming the Thirst’

By Alicia Ostriker December 26, 2014

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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