16. Hot Water

by Temple Stark - Arizona
(I have for many years now for at least half the time I'm in the shower, thought how lucky I am to have hot or cold water at my fingertips. Until I moved to Arizona, it was always hot water I cherished.The past nine days of seeing all that dirty water in New Orleans doing no one any good, has only reinforced that idea and I finally put it down in writing.)

I pull the curtain
So I can hide
I feel certain
Once inside

Under the shower head
Hot water steams
My skin turns red
And brings day dreams

I'm the luckiest damned
Person on this planet
I turn the tap
Get my climate

Too hot? Too hot?
I can turn it cold
Too cold? Too cold?
I can twist it bold

Water drops hit
Flow down my limbs
The splash sounds off
My anger dims

Here I stand in the shower
Hour after hour
after hour
after hour
No need to complain
I have the power

I know people
With no lights
With no food
They get in fights

I know people
High on the drug
Life hits hard
They just shrug

I'm in a desert
I feel fine
Yet in Nairobi and Sahara
People are dyin'
People are dyin'

I see people
poor and black
poor and black
See white brothers
Think they'll never make it back
Never make it back

Here I stand in the shower
Hour after hour
after hour
after hour
No need to complain
I have the power

I'm the luckiest damned
Person here on Earth
I have my water
I have mirth

This inside rain
Crashes through my brain
Water drains
Eases my pains

Soothing, cooling
Feeling great
Running, cleansing
Dark dirt and hate

I have hot water


hellicane category: abstract