THIS IS BREAD, TAKE IT & EAT
THIS IS BLOOD, TAKE IT & DRINK

DO THIS TO REMEMBER ME

THE RIVER

surrounded by water
I float on the river
whose shores I cannot reach

I float on the river
a paper boat that cradles a candle
I flicker upon the surface

only a ripple. I pass
across the face of the water
a golden tremble, bright, shadow

ripples appear, repeat, fade
never the same, soon erased
the glare of candle light drifts a script

upon the water, letters
for me to read, I harken
to the river & its deep water

(These poems mark the beginning of the third chapter of Deep Water—Transplant. Arlen has relapsed for a second time and the only possible cure is a bone marrow transplant.)