What price we pay for unshed tears.

The drought starves the river of life,

exposing it’s rock skeleton.

The soul fish die

and word trees whither brown.

Let tears fill out river’s form.

Giving it a roundness that weeps,

chuckles, laughs or shouts in joy.

Fat trees drink and fish are abundant.

David Garlick, Lopez Island, Washington, September, 1996