I read that Johannesburg is the world’s largest city
not on a river, lake or ocean. That’s what I read.
Water is important. But what I know for sure
is that my grandmother could not drink water
just before she died and I remember feeding her
ice. My mother, well, she died like a vapor
before I could even feed her goodbye.
My father anointed his dry mouth with a swab
dipped in water the night before he passed.
And I wake up and reach for the bottle
on the nightstand and just before
the water passes my lips a thousand thoughts
enter my mind and I drink anyway,
thirsty, but what choice do we have, really,
but to stay close to water
for as long as we can
-- by Harry Calhoun
