Shifting Sand


The water made a swirling pattern
in the sand,
a tiny ant was trying to climb
out of the imprint,
it took two steps up and dislodged a piece
that tumbled it back down again,
this did not stay the ant’s resolve.

Life was shifting sand and begin again.

Then an errant swirl of river water
pushed by a small wind
disturbed the pattern,
caught the small body
and plucked it effortlessly
into the current
where it disappeared.

The river had only done
what rivers do,
the breath of the small wind
had no desire for killing,
it circled and turned away.

The currents carried the ant
down to a jutting rock
and the rock, strong and sure
just happened to be there.

The ant climbed to the top
of the rock
in the middle of the river.
---------

11-99