lit

before the deluge
when all of my words were smooth,
kempt and clean and seductive
without ego, productive, lucid
before the deluge
when the nameless death was far-off
crouching in the wiry distance
waiting without warning; no lantern eyes
before the deluge
when i built my levees tall
but not so very strong
i prayed for rain, floods, mountains of water to sink us all
then watched as everything occurred.