seven water bearing goddesses
each with two full round amphorae
of cool clear water from the depths of the black well
each with one on her shoulder
and one on her hip
tree nymphs striking an ancient twice bent pose
each head covered with soft cloth
of green and rust
swathed around behind
leaving mahogany midriffs bared
each stands around the spring
each bends and washes her delicate feet
seductively
after offering oblations to unseen nature spirits
each refills her round pot
and proceeds slowly away
leaving in a languid line
without smiling
into the heat of the day

Shiv Mirabito is a Tantric Buddhist-Hindi yogi, anthropologist, archivist, artist, photographer, publisher & poet who began writing as a teenager while living at Allen Ginsberg's Cherry Valley poetry commune. He now divides his time between Woodstock, India & Nepal. His imprint, Shivastan Publishing, craftprints chapbooks & broadsides on handmade paper in Kathmandu.