Who can heed
The history of water
And not believe
In miracles?

It watered the first plants,
Bathed dinosaurs,
Laundered caesar’s toga,
Wetted buddha’s
Thirst.

It is a solvent
That is never soiled.
The water planet
Has not a drop more
Nor a drop less
Than it has ever had
Of this precious liquid.

It is Melville’s
“ungraspable Phantom of Life.”

Shirley Jeffrey