I handed you an orange
with a straw stuck in it—Go!
You went, and climbed
a tree in bare feet, up
to the rolling waves at the top,
where you breathed in, evolved
into a canopy.
You spread your blue dress
of sky out all around you
and closed your eyes to hear
the river murmuring,
her watery fingers combing
combing so gently
the white gold reeds.
All afternoon you listened
to her stories, and caught
the airy kisses she blew
to her little golden-haired daughter,
the earth. In this way,
you learned six languages:
one wind, two water, three bird.