Camel in the Rain

photo credit: Daniel2005 (Flickr)

Be patient with my artless stroke,

and gentle with my timid heart,

and know it’s joy, and fear you felt

reflected in the words I spoke.

Oh, it was only yesterday,

I walked the desert heat.

The dry land sent me sand for suck,

and every dreary step

sent curls of lonely dust

in swelling, dizzy spirals

down my swollen throat,

to settle dry and bitter

and heavy on my heart.

Even my tears ran sand,

sharp and hard and empty.

And it was only yesterday

that starved for loving water,

somehow I survived,

and taught myself of solitude.

And now I see I learned too well;

Afraid, I pause and splash,

and shy the sweet, sweet wet,

and drink, and choke, and cry;

for I don’t know the water, yet.