The Fountain

The Birth of Liquid Fears, 1932 - Salvador Dali

Don’t say, don’t say there is no water

to solace the dryness at our hearts.

I have seen

the fountain springing out of the rock wall

and you drinking there. And I too

before your eyes

found footholds and climbed

to drink the cool water.

The woman of that place, shading her eyes,

frowned as she watched-but not because

she grudged the water,

only because she was waiting

to see we drank our fill and were

refreshed.

Don’t say, don’t say there is no water.

The fountain is there among it’s scalloped

grey and green stones,

it is still there and always there

with it’s quiet song and strange power

to spring in us,

up and out through the 

rock.

by Denise Levertov

Villa D'Este