Lotus Dam

Lotus leaves, standing feet above the water,

collect at their centre a perfect lens of rain

and heel, and tip it back into the water.

Their baby leaves are feet again, or slant lips

scrolled in declaration; pointed at toe and heel

they echo an unwalked sole in their pale green crinkles

and under blown and picket blooms, the floor

of floating leaves rolls light rainwater marbles

back and forth on sharkskins of anchored rippling.

Each speculum, pearl and pebble of the first water

rides, sprung with weight, on its live mirroring skin

tipped green and loganberry, till one or other sky

redeems it, beneath bent foils and ferruled canes

where cupped pink bursts all day, above riddled water.