Waterproof and Wet

Before arriving here
we were strangers.
Now, we depart,
but carrying this seed
friends exchange.

My daughter asks,
"Where did that cloud
reflected in the river go?"
I dip my hands in to the wrists
and shake them at her face.
She screams in gleeful protest.

My watch drips--
both waterproof and wet.

I wonder how polluted
the Yamatogawa River is.



by jerry gordon
1.29.06