Lithia Springs, Three Times

1

What do we call it, eternal? The springwater, domesticas a swimming pool at 72 degrees,always about as blue        as a child's eyeor the sky when all they promised        was rain.

We drive home with sand collected to our feetreminds us        this is your dead brother's carthis is a long summer        the mouth of a fireworkbefore the sound

2

There is a young boy trying to drownhis sister        making waterlaughter. She criesfor a mother I cannot        see I cannot see

any alligators        just egrets engagingibis; summer in a chorus of green around us, watchingto see what becomes of us all afterfalling        asleep with the oven on

3

What if it's true this springwater is colderin your throat?        The Alafia river is generouswith its mistakes, its illusionsof felicity, Arcadia, Wonder-        land.

But where are they        the alligators