writing on stone with water
is an exercise of impermanence–
what is true and brought out
dissipates. what is written by water on stone
whether shaped with force or tenderness
unbecomes as fast as it becomes;
that first letter vanishes
as the last is painted
no matter how deep
that brush enters the well,
the words do not stay.
so.
without sound to carry it,
or paper to hold the stain
for other eyes
what would you write?
i would write
over and over
my own name
then maybe my mother’s
or my sister’s, my father’s.
and yours
until finally
the exercise is learned. what is written
in water cannot stay
and then
i would just write
yeses in a chain
that never become yes
but always almost yes
before they disappear
Susan Daniels Poetry 
Susan, I am fast becoming your biggest fan. Thought provokingly wonderful.
Oh, Sarah, thank you!
Lovely as ever Susan – especially “no matter how deep
that brush enters the well”
I really should be working but I do love to read!
Some days I would write ‘Hope’, and watch it fade
Some days I would write ‘Sorrow’, it would fade the same
Oh! Now that, that is a wonderful idea, and also a sad truth. Fading hope.
I wanted to write an entire poem… you is inspirin I you is 😉
oh, ROS, do it! I would love to see it. Oh, wait. You are working, so maybe on a break 😉
I blame you for my failure to work! (Luckily I’m working at home – which I’m very bad at – though I’m good at blaming!)
Cool–I transcribe from home…when I am not playing hooky…Fantastic write out, here.
…and fading sorrow, too. Sounds like you got the point of the lesson long before I did 😉
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This is astonishingly beautiful and SOOOO filled with truth. I am going to write on some stones by my favorite river… possibly as soon as this weekend.
You are an inspiration! I am so grateful you are a part of OctPoWriMo!
Oh, gosh, Julie, thanks! I am turning all red here…
This is thought provoking and beautiful. Thank you
Oh, thanks so much!
“that first letter vanishes as the last is painted” – what should I comment? I am in loss of words now …. how do you weave such magic always?
oh, gosh–thanks so much. It is my muse…now I am a pile of blushes…
Great words, my prolific friend.
Thanks so much!
Hmmmm… watching you write with water, now there would be your Native American name, eh? Writes With Water.
And so it does disappear from view – in the shorter term. Water, it works on a different scale. It shape shifts, it holds a longer life than more rigid stone, and in the end, it wears it down.
Which means precisely nothing, unlike your words, but it sounded good in the commenting. 😉
oh–Nelle, I like that–let’s make that my NA name 😉
I rather liked the flow of it. I shudder to think what Native American name would attach to me. 😉
I like “Carries an Umbrella”
roflmao!
The commenting was wonderful, btw!