He Told Me

Suddenly I see that the basement is flooded up to my knees rendering me helpless wondering how to scoop it out with just this small cup in my hands And how could I have not known this or forgotten water sloshing dark in ominous circles being cold and somehow foreign – while every drop I know by name And for a moment with this small cup in my hands I stand puzzled while awareness slips away just like water slipping through cracks caused by my ambiguity And again I go through all the daily motions with no idea what's lapping at my knees and don't hear the cool shivers crackle In the hours of my ignorance