The Crossing

A wall of water in the dark pours

loosely on a runway or a road – so much

released, it isn’t obvious that here’s a man

until he nears.

Three floodlights stop him

at the verge where he must cross,

his temples bathed in rain, his garments

steeping, shining, heavy laden.

He walks towards me, watching,

while I shift, standing my dry ground,

and though his hands declare him

luggageless, he’s charged

– as I am charged with witnessing

how he will bear the fall of water,

pass through the wall of mourning.