Learning to drink water

For Ainslie

I am only now learning to drink water,

cold drops wetting the floor

Falling from my novice lips.

I notice,

“oh, it is nice to have a cup

next to bed for when I wake up.

I’ll remember that.”

My father and mother never taught me

nor any teacher in school.

My friends taught me to drink

but not water.

So here I am, 32 and learning.

I am not ashamed.

I am a humble student.

And I look forward the way artists do,

thinking of one time, maybe two

if I’m lucky,

that I’ll drink water flawlessly,

perfectly, before I go.