walking

Walking towards the water
I feel you floating there
inside me, deep down
where the soul meets the body.

I imagine you see red, darkness
not the blackened blue waves
of this Lake,
not the yellow sugar maple
leaves, the last of fall.

I know you are the singer, the one who asks
me to sing today, who asks me to write
poetry, you are a little girl
who will sing her way from the womb

You are my rock, my salvation
you will ask of me
more than I can hope to give
and I will give it anyway

you will dive too deep
into this water
this life
and you will break my heart
joyously open
like a tidal wave.