Puddles

Must the puddle determine your beliefs?
I live in a sea of them
their waters swirl around me
behind and before me

I don't get wet

I did once
A decade of immersion
in muddy puddles

It made me
soggy
blinkered
small
afraid

"We are the only true puddle."

I shrank in the puddles
almost disappeared

Now I walk through the sea
dry
unafraid
strong

Seeing the puddles
but never getting wet

C. A. HOCKING
6 September 1990