It is a curious element, #water.

It quenches thirst.

It bows the head of fire.

It cools hot feet.

But I can’t quite help seeing

What they saw when looking out to sea

In Indonesia and Sri Lanka,

Echoed later on the eastern shores

Of Japan.

Or on a different horrid day

In ancient Crete when the great wave

Left an empire floundering.

Liquid water, snow and steam

(Did you know that water waits for dust

So it can “remember” how to freeze?),

I am a creature made less from the dust of earth

Than from earth’s great waters.

Stuff of life, stuff of rescue,

Stuff of balm, stuff of destruction.