carry your bucket
to the water well
lower it in
hear it fill
now pull it up
feel the weight
feel the cool
as it sloshes a little
down the sides
and onto your hands
carry your bucket
home again
hear the water move inside
feel the handle
feel it cut into your palms
a heavy, awkward weight
pulling on your shoulders
and back
all that work
for a drink of water
for a bath
for washing dishes
done every day
in days long past
if my water came from a well
instead of a tap
I would not take it for granted
carry your soul
to a thinking well
lower it in
hear it fill with thoughts
now pull it up
feel the weight
feel the substance
as the thoughts slip
down your mind
and onto your heart
carry your soul
home again
feel the new thoughts move inside
feel it bump against the old ones
a ponderous, sobering weight
pulling on your mind
and heart
we cannot live
without answering our body's need
for water
we must get it
every day
whether the journey to quench our thirst
is long or short
hard or easy
it must be done
we cannot live
without answering our soul's need
for growth
through new thoughts
the journey to fill our spirits
is always long
always hard
but it must be done
finding water
is much simpler nowadays
a walk across a room
is all it takes
yet our souls are often wanting
taken for granted
we surround ourselves
with all things familiar
and forget to make the journey
to find replenishment
resulting in thirst
and drought
and trapped unhappiness
