on to the oasis

I begin with your toes
stop at every freckle
to leave nothing undone
along the way
trace a line behind
the knee slowly along
the gently sloping
ridge moving toward
the center onward
at the speed a drop of
water from your shower
might drip down your
thigh but rolling
upward against
gravity or reason
into the underbrush
then the long climb
up the mountain to
the temple where all
thirst becomes
meaningless