Outside My Window

I was musing the title Of this When I first lay back And forgot to be aware As I lay back, Forgot the anticipation Of joy Which always comes Before I lie back Before the hot water Reaches, and needles Into my nervous system All along my back And small hot wavelets Make their way Round my neck … It only really works When I first, in a Hot bath and after Activity, or when In pain And I, with an Open mind Empty of Titles, Empty of Everything But the bath, There is only this bath The bath … Sit, and then … slowly … To extend the bliss Lie back Even the whim, the Inclination to write In the bath nay to write … I must write About the bliss Of lying back … I do it … And yet do I revel in it Sit, and then slowly, To extend the bliss Lie back Oh so Slowly Feel the water … The water The hot water As it Meets … Every … … Point … Along … my … spine Feel the lapping As I become submerged Bit … by … bit Oh! the shoulders Glory The lower neck And shudders go through me Of delight And more, Feeling the wavelets About my neck and Arms and knees Ecstatic Body ecstatic, the water Love and caresses Sending To all parts of me. Yea to all parts, Indeed The heat and the cleansing Reach my soul … … Ecstasy … … Bliss … … Only this … But Now comes the sound of sweeping Broom wielded by blue-clad worker Outside the window Sweeping the drive With systematic strokes Outside the window, The sweeping Bringing a rush of thoughts Unwelcome now And emotions … Too many to name … Peace … Water … Peaceful water all about me I am entering a new now A new present To be enjoyed So … Time to put down my pencil, To wash, to get out And smile.