mist disappears above the steaming tub
of magnesium infused water some particles stray
down the hall out the window and
right out to the stars 90 tons of atmosphere
every day trails behind us a vaporous path
into the light strewn infinite distance
while here the water within a human skin
a sea held up by a seashell skeleton
forgets where it begins and ends and is content
to sink into and out of itself
leaning into the movements
of celestial bodies not so far away
as to have lost their influence

our space faring compass of water
holds the key to life’s direction
it is our first familiar womb a bath
distended always toward the moon

recently we discovered that its
quantum entangled atoms can pass
right through a solid object
and that locked in rock matrix
near the earth’s core is a volume
three times that of all our oceans combined

we breathe its oxygen use its hydrogen
for rockets destined toward ice
on the moon, Mars, Europa, Titan,
all glittering promises of far beyond

it powers our cells uses photons
to communicate one could say
it contains all of the knowledge
sparkling and swirling within our skulls

fluidity is what keeps us healthy
to stop this flow one must die
and even then we are borne along
as it rises from us to become air again

we weep for our final loss of shape
salt trails are washed onto beaches
yet gathered beneath lunar light
the sea leaps up sleek and glistening

giant flukes smash spray high above
the water flies in ecstasy rains
back into its swirling reflection
celebrates all that it calls forth

this is the meaning of all we know
every last drop of us dwells within

©John Greenleaf-Maple – text and art 20180308